Welcome to the heart and soul of the Swedish choir scene in Atlanta. We are a passionate group of individuals who share a deep love for music, culture, and the harmonious fusion of both. Our Swedish men’s choir was founded with a simple yet powerful mission: to celebrate the beauty of Swedish choral music and share it with our community. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Our Story
In August 1996, seven guys from Atlanta came together with a common mission: to practice singing for the Nordic Lodge #708’s crawfish party scheduled later that same month. The original group included Bruce Larson, Sam Linden, Gunnar Carteng, Sten Ekberg, Dale Nordin, Dennis Carlson, and Göran Rygert. Together, they embarked on a journey that would shape the course of their lives and the Atlanta Swedish choir scene.
For their debut performance at the crawfish party, “The Vikings”, as they called themselves, put together a 30-minute program that featured Sweden’s well-known repertoire for men’s choirs, including a few schnapps songs. The performance was a success; they sounded impressive and left their audience wanting more. With an appetite for music and camaraderie, they decided to take their singing to the next level and began regular rehearsals.
As time went on, “The Vikings” transformed into “Vasa Drängar,” a name inspired by the famous Swedish men’s choir, Orphei Drängar of Uppsala. Their journey was marked by growth and dedication. While there were periods of slower activity, the choir persisted, and by 2015, they had 15 members.
Vasa Drängar became a fixture at Swedish events in and around Atlanta, performing at the Scandinavian Festival, Valborgsmässoafton, Sweden’s National Day celebrations, crawfish parties, Lucia festivals, Christmas dinners, and even Julotta. Their passion for spreading Swedish culture through music extended beyond Atlanta as they received invitations to perform in other cities and states.
Thorsby, Alabama, a town founded by Swedish immigrants from Värmland, invited the choir to sing at their Swedish festival. Raleigh, North Carolina, extended an invitation in 2007 to participate in their annual Scandinavian Christmas Fair, which became a cherished tradition, with Vasa Drängar returning 13 times. The choir also embarked on out-of-state tours, sharing their music in places like Charlotte, NC, New Haven CT, Chicago IL, and Vancouver WA.
Vasa Drängar proudly holds the distinction of being the southernmost-located Swedish choir in the United States. Their repertoire spans a wide range of music and genres, encompassing approximately 250 songs. From spring songs to folk music, traditional Swedish men’s choir pieces to Swedish “visor,” national anthems to schnapps songs, and popular American and British tunes to Christmas carols, they sing in ten languages, preserving Swedish tradition in the southeastern United States.
Over the years, we’ve grown into a close-knit musical family, dedicated to nurturing our members’ talents, learning about Swedish culture, and enchanting audiences with our performances. Our commitment to this vision has led us to become an integral part of Atlanta’s cultural tapestry.
Our Music
Swedish choral music is a treasure trove of enchanting melodies, evocative harmonies, and heartfelt lyrics. While our repertoire predominantly features Swedish songs, we also embrace English and multilingual compositions. This diversity allows us to connect with audiences of all backgrounds and share the universal language of music.
Whether we’re performing traditional Swedish folk songs, contemporary choral compositions, or beloved English classics, our aim is to captivate hearts and inspire a love for music.
Here a very popular Swedish song we sing. This recording is sung by our member Sten Ekberg.
Our Members and Community
At the core of our Atlanta men’s choir is a sense of community and belonging. We believe that music has the power to bring people together, and our choir serves as a testament to that belief. We welcome individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their musical experience or cultural background. We’re proud to provide a space where people can nurture their passion for singing, make lasting friendships, and find a second home within our choir family.
Our Leadership Team
Meet the dedicated individuals who lead our choir:
- President: Jay Lutz
- Vice President: Sten Ekberg
- Secretary: Erik Kind
- Treasurer: Sven Lovegren
- Officer: –
- Music Director and Conductor: Andrew Hershman
- Assistant Music Director and Librarian: Göran Rygert
Other Members:
- Adrian Popescu
- Nathaniel Sundholm
With their guidance and expertise, our leadership team ensures that our choir thrives and continues to bring the magic of Swedish choral music to our community.
Join Us
If you share our love for music, culture, and community, we invite you to join our choir. Whether you’re a seasoned vocalist or just starting your musical journey, we have a place for you. Explore our “Join Us” page to learn more about the audition process and what it means to be a part of Vasa Drängar.
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions, want to book us for an event, or simply want to say hello, feel free to reach out. You can contact Jay Lutz, 404-467-1130 or Goran Rygert 770-977-8537.
We look forward to sharing our music and our passion with you. Join us on this remarkable musical adventure, and let’s create beautiful harmonies together!
Past Members
ch = charter member
* = current member (2021)
Tenor 1
Marshall Anderson (T1, B1) 1997-2001.
Sten Ekberg (T1, B1) ch * 1996-1998, 2004—-
Erik Kind * 2008—-
Bruce Larson ch 1996-1999, 2007.
Jay Lutz * 1999-2006, 2008—-
Maurice McMullen 2003-2005.
Stephen Shirk 2006-2008.
Mike Tripp 2007-2009.
Tenor 2
Gunnar Carteng ch 1996.
Stephen Germany (T2, T1) 2006-2009.
Jim Gulick 2016.
Lars Jonsteg (T2, T1) 2003-2004.
Sam Linden ch 1996-2010.
William Nestor 2015-2016.
Adrian Popescu * 2003-2007, 2009—-
Göran Rygert (T2, B1) ch * 1996—-
Niklas Smedberg, Raleigh, NC 2011-2012, 2014.
Tony Swaim 2015.
Alex Wilson 2017.
Bass 1
Daniel Bastian 2014.
Mattias Esqvivel 2011.
Andrew Hershman * 2019—-
Hans Hörnfeldt 2007-2016.
Peter Vang Jensen * 2019—-
Ted Johnson 2007-2011.
Christofer Johnston 2005.
Kaido Karli 2003-2004.
Oscar Kjellberg 2010-2011.
Ray Kuutti 1998-2003.
Bert Nestorson 2007-2010.
Dale Nordin ch 1996-2023
Roger Pajari 2005-2006.
Paul Spitzer (B1, T2) 2004-2007, 2010.
Bass 2
Fred Axelson 1997-1999, 2003-2004.
John Boli 2003-2009.
Dennis Carlson ch 1996-2010.
Kirill Chernoff 2005, 2015-2016.
Magnus Edlind 2005-2019.
Eric Erickson 1997-1998.
Carl Ericsson 2005-2010.
Ross Malme 2008-2010.
Ivan Melnikov 2015.
Sven Lovegren * 2010—-
Peter Gustav Westin 2010.
Accopanists
Gabe Granitz (piano or accordion) 2009-2013.
Alla Melnik (bayan) 2013-2017.
Rand Lines (piano at Lucia/Redeemer) 2014-2018.
Andrew Fazackerley (piano at the 10 th anniv.) 2006
Kyle Bennet (piano at spex) 2014.
Ingrid Ljungholm (piano) 2018.
Music Directors
Andrew Hershman
Göran Rygert 1996-2018.
Peter Gustav Westin 2019-2021
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our Vasa Drängar choir members.
- Dale Nordin – October 25, 2023 More about Dale >
- Sam Linden – 2010