Welcome to the Leif Eriksson International Festival!
Explore — Discover — Celebrate
This year’s Leif Eriksson International Festival (LEIF) commences on Oct. 5 at Mindekirken in Minneapolis. Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, and Sámi culture will all be represented.
Leslee Lane Hoyum
Rockford, Minn.
The Leif Eriksson International Festival (LEIF) began in 1987 under the leadership of Mindekirken Pastor John Mauritzen. It’s a celebration of Nordic and Nordic-American arts and society, and its committee represents the Twin cities’ Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, and Sámi communities.
Over the years, LEIF events have brought top-ranked Nordic talent to Minneapolis, including musicians, writers, and artists in all genres. This year will not disappoint. The festival explores the values, goals, and expressions of today’s Nordic countries and shares them with Nordic Americans and the citizenry at large.
Mads Tolling is “a virtuoso who doesn’t abandon his listeners,” according to acoustic guitarist Leo Kotke.
This year, LEIF welcomes Mads Tolling as its artist in residence. Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Tolling is an internationally renowned violinist and composer now living in San Francisco. He has been awarded two Grammys and has performed with some of the best jazz and blues performers of our time, including Ramsey Lewis, Les Kotke, Kenny Baron, and Paquito D’Rivera, to name a few. He is currently a member of Bob Weir’s Wolf Bros and Wolf Pack Band. As a featured Yamaha artist, Tolling leads clinics and master classes in the United States and internationally. He will be playing several times throughout the week, including at the Ski for Light International 50th Anniversary Gala, Oct. 12, and at Mindekirken, Oct. 13.
Mindekirken’s own Maggie Burr will enchant audiences with her beautiful soprano voice.
Throughout the festivities, Oct. 5–19, a variety of Nordic talent is highlighted through music, poetry, and film. Sopranos Maggie Burr and Ariel Wilberg will guide attendees through a musical smørgåsbord of Norwegian folk tunes and operatic arias on Oct. 5. Icelandic music will envelop you Oct. 6 when Kristin Jónína Taylor and Jim Reilly present the strong rhythmic nature of Icelandic music through piano and vocal music.
As mentioned before, musician in residence Mads Tolling will hold a concert Oct. 13, followed by a jam session. Tolling has a very eclectic view of jazz, which led American acoustic guitarist Leo Kotke to say that Tolling is “a virtuoso who doesn’t abandon his listeners.” He went on to say that Tolling’s music is fascinating and has immediate appeal, creating satisfying music that pleases the ear.
Roseann Lloyd uses poetic forms from western and eastern traditions. Her poems are an expression of joy, juxtaposing northern and southern light.
LEIF offers other artistic genres as well. Its Poetry Café has become popular over the past few years. Roseann Lloyd will read her poetry Oct. 12, with complementary music played by nyckelharpist Cheryl Paschke and mandolinist/guitarist Joe Alfano. Lloyd is well known for her ability to create poems that balance and juxtapose northern and southern light, offer lyric joy, and/or reveal injustice as told to her along her travels.
Also on Oct. 12 is the Ski for Light International (SFLI) 50th Anniversary Gala. SFLI has taught thousands of visually- and mobility-impaired persons to cross-country ski. This Norwegian concept was developed by blind visionary Erling Stordahl and brought to the United States by Coloradan Olav Pederson, a native of Voss, Norway, and the Sons of Norway. The evening will feature a multimedia salute to the program.
Along with Maggie Burr, soprano Ariel Wilberg will guide attendees through a musical smørgåsbord of Norwegian folk tunes and operatic aria
On Oct. 19, the use of film tells viewers of a rural Iowa man who becomes a cultural hero in Dwight in Denmark: Saving Tunes from Extinction.
Enhancing the artistic programs will be special worship services and musical presentations at Mindekirken’s Tuesday Open House. Information regarding the programs, tickets, venues, and detailed information can be found at leifmn.org, mindekirken.org, or norwayhouse.org. Questions? Call Mindekirken at (612) 874-071.
All photos courtesy of Mindekirken
This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of The Norwegian American.
