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We heard the St. Olaf's orchestra in a couple of concerts that far surpassed ANY college orchestra I've heard before. The depth of understanding and unity among the players made you think they had been playing together for many years. Also attended a couple of clinics led by St. Olaf staff - pretty impressive. If you ever get the chance to hear one of their performing groups - take it.

By Reidmc (Reidmc) on Sunday, June 15, 2003 - 01:05 am: Edit

Wanna sing in a first-class chorus? A lot of students do, and St. Olaf College has seven performing choral groups. (These are not sixteen-singer groups either. I believe that at least three of them are 75+.) A conscious effort to upgrade academically, the buyer's market for faculty, and the fact that many students whose abilities would allow them to attend elite schools come to St. Olaf to sing make this a very interesting choice, even for non-musicians.

Haven't quite figured out why they have stayed under the radar, particularly since any academic ratings I have seen put them higher than a surprising list of better-known colleges. Maybe small towns in Minnesota can only get credit for one top liberal arts college. (Carleton is across town.) Maybe they get all the students they need and don't have to spend any money over-marketing and pounding out the press releases. Maybe the "St." in the name scares people away.
Regardless, a school worth more attention and not just from singers.