Sandefjord Girls Choir (Norwegian: Sandefjord Jentekor) was a Norwegian girls choir that performed from 1956 to 2009. It was founded in 1956 by

Sverre Valen Sverre Valen (9 May 1925 – 18 March 2023) was a Norwegian choir conductor. He founded and directed Sandefjord Girls Choir (Sandefjord Jentekor), Bel Canto-koret, the Valen Choir (Valen-koret) and Valens Solistensemble, many of which have won a ...

and had a varied repertoire. In 1969, the choir won its class in the BBC (later

EBU The European Broadcasting Union (EBU; french: Union européenne de radio-télévision, links=no, UER) is an alliance of public service media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area or who are members of the Co ...

) competition

Let the Peoples Sing ''Let the Peoples Sing'' (known until 1964 as ''Let the People Sing'') is an international choral competition currently organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The final, encompassing three categories and around ten choirs, is offer ...

. They won NRK's national competition for youth choirs 15 times. On tours in Europe, the choir performed in cathedrals like Cologne Cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris and St. Peter's Basilica. In 1976, the choir toured USA for three weeks as part of the United States Bicentennial. The tour ended with a performance in the

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

, for which they received an excellent review in '' The New York Times''.Sverre Valen
International Adventist Musicians Associations. Retrieved 14 February 2014 Valen stopped conducting the choir in 1997. Recruiting many of the best singers of the Sandefjord Girls' Choir, Valen started Valen's Soloist Ensemble ( Valens Solistensemble) in 1985 and conducted it to 2000.Aksel Korbøl (in Norsk biogragisk leksikon
Sverre Valen

Store norske leksikon The ''Great Norwegian Encyclopedia'' ( no, Store Norske Leksikon, abbreviated ''SNL''), is a Norwegian-language online encyclopedia. The online encyclopedia is among the most-read Norwegian published sites, with more than two million unique vis ...

. Retrieved 14 February 2014 Jan Helge Trøen took over as conductor of Sandefjord Girls Choir in 1997. In 1999, the choir became part of the foundation World Festival Choir who hired Vesta Zabulioniene as conductor. During her time the choir held concerts with artists like Tommy Körberg,

Benedicte Adrian Benedicte Christine Adrian Mouton (born 22 October 1963) is a Norwegian singer and artist. She has released material on her own, but is best known for her collaboration with Ingrid Bjørnov in the pop duo Dollie de Luxe (1980–1994). She has also ...

Jørn Hoel Jørn Hoel (born 27 July 1957) is a Norwegian composer, guitarist and singer. Hoel was born in Tromsø. His album debut was ''Ubarbert'' from 1982, and the album ''Varme ut av is'' from 1987 earned him Spellemannprisen. Among his best known song ...

, Jan Werner Danielsen and

Sandra Lyng Haugen Sandra Lyng Haugen (born 18 April 1987) is a Norwegian singer. Biography Sandra Lyng Haugen is from the town of Mosjøen in the municipality of Vefsn. She rose to popularity in 2004 after her participation in the Norwegian TV2 program '' ...

. She conducted the choir until 2009 when she decided to concentrate on her own music school and the girls in the choir followed her.Marianne Henriksen (10 June 2009
Synger på siste vers?
''

Sandefjords Blad ''Sandefjords Blad'' is a newspaper published daily in Sandefjord, Norway, except on Sundays. It is available in Norwegian language only. Sandefjords Blad is a private company, owned by Mecom with a circulation of 14,780 copies (2004) and 50 emp ...

''. Retrieved 20 February 2014

Selected recordings

* ''Jul med Sandefjord Jentekor''. (1970) Conductor:Sverre Valen * ''Hymn to Freedom'' (1990). With Jorunn Marie Bratlie. Conductor:Sverre Valen * ''O Helga Natt''. (1992) With several others. Conductor:Sverre Valen * ''På folkemunne. Norwegian folk tunes.'' (1994) Conductor:Sverre Valen * ''Julemoro''. (1994) With Gunstein Draugedalen. Conductor:Sverre Valen

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sandefjord Girls Choir Girls' and women's choirs Choirs of children Norwegian choirs Musical groups established in 1956 1956 establishments in Norway Musical groups from Sandefjord