The Augustana Choir, under the direction of Dr. James Johnson, will perform in four states during its January/February 2008 Interim Tour.

The tour opens Jan. 30 at First Lutheran Church in Marshall and concludes Feb. 5 at the Church of Christ in Scotland, S.D. In between, the choir will perform in Woodbury, Emmons, Atlantic, Iowa, Omaha, Neb., and Sioux Center, Iowa.

The choir will perform at Emmons Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. No tickets are required; a freewill offering will be taken.

Area students who are members of the choir include Melinda Bjelland from Lake Mills, Iowa, and David Missal from Forest City, Iowa.

On Monday, Feb. 4, the choir will be featured at the Northwest Iowa Honor Choir Festival at the B.J. Haan Auditorium on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.

The Augustana Choir has a long history of excellence. Organized in 1921 by Dr. Carl Youngdahl, the Augustana Choir was one of two choirs to be invited to sing before the National Federation of Music Clubs at its biennial convention in Chicago in the spring of 1927. The choir has appeared at the prestigious North Central Convention of the American Choral Directors&8217; Association. The Augustana ensemble has performed in New York&8217;s Lincoln Center, and received enthusiastic reviews in Norwegian, Danish, and German newspapers.

In 1994, the choir was selected to participate in the 50th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy. The invitation was extended by Jacques Chirac, mayor of Paris. Two years later, the choir represented South Dakota in the &8220;American Musical Salute to Austria,&8221; an event commemorating Austria&8217;s millennium.

With its music, the Augustana Choir has delighted and inspired people from all walks of life and religious beliefs. This was evidenced by the response from the people of Ireland during the choir&8217;s summer tour in 2004. This summer the choir is returning to Italy, where it will perform at St. Peter&8217;s Basilica in Rome.

Students making up the Augustana Choir come from all areas of the college. Their faith and love of music brings them together. These are everyday students with extraordinary talent who perform for the world. In addition, the choir sings at many campus events including services at the Chapel of Reconciliation and Viking Days Coronation.