OUR AIMS
With a framework of enjoyment and friendship our aim is to promote male voice singing.
ABOUT US
The choir has a broad and entertaining repertoire with the emphasis on the rhythmic
- We are about 40 merry members
- The choir is at its best and most inspired singing for an audience
- We are a male voice choir
- The choir arranges concerts, festivals and gatherings
- We have our own unique song arrangements
THE HISTORY OF OUR CHOIR
The choir was established 19th January 1993 of a few singers from Bryn male voice choir. The ambition was to start a choir with its own repertoire and image. Formalities were completed, and the choir organised with a management group and elected members who subsequently took care of arranging events, choice of song material etc.
The choirs first Conductor was Ola Sætre, followed by Fredrik Otterstad and in 1995 Eilif Folning – these were the choirs formative years. In autumn 1998 the choirs present Conductor and musical leader Sven Arne Lindemark took over. We consider ourselves lucky as Svein Arne arranges most of the song material for us. Svein Arne Lindemark has been Lecturer at the Norwegian Academy of Music for 30 years. He has taught improvisation, practical harmony, piano and methodology.
Maria Haug is Odins Ravners (Odins Ravens) new choir leader from 01.09.2012. She replaces our previous and well respected musical leader Svein Arne Lindemark.
In the space of its first 20 years the choir has had seven different administrative leaders (Odin). Emil Rønquist was the first and is now the choirs first Honorary member. Emil was Odin until 1998, followed by Morten Olafsen and then by Bjørn Tomten. In 2000 Hans-Erik Boug took over, succeeded by Eivind Wolff in 2004, and then Ola Jørgen Woltmann 2006. In 2008 Hans-Erik Boug once more was elected to “Odin”. Dan Brovold took over in 2014 as the leader of the choir.
Our first practice address was Norstrand School just to the south of Oslo centre, but still early in the choirs history we aquired rooms from Norges Husmorforbundet i Fagerborggaten 14. In autumn 2008, however we had to leave that address as Oslo City Council converted the building into a Kindergarden – so now the rooms ring to other vibrations! Our present practice address is at Oslo University College, Pilestredet 46, 0130 Oslo, and it’s there you’ll find us each Tuesday evening.
Odins Ravner have been members of Norsk Sangerforum since 2006
The choir has arranged festivals, choir gatherings, held concerts, and had diverse requests to perform, and have regularly participated in other choirs arrangements, gatherings, competitions etc. including abroad.
Each year we round off the season in December with our traditional “Lutefisklag”, a speciality fish dinner in rather exotic surroundings in Oslo. A little later we have our popular Christmas Concert for family and friends.