The Apollo Club of Minneapolis is a choral organization founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The organization has been in operation since 1895, making it one of the oldest continually performing ensembles in the United States.
History The Apollo Club has a history intertwined with the music community of the Twin Cities, with roots dating back to 1887. In the spring of 1895, steps were taken to create a male chorus, and the organization was officially formed and organized on September 23, 1895. Emil Oberhoffer was the first conductor of the choir, who established a high standard of choral singing. The first public performance from the Apollo Club occurred in the Lyceum Theater, located in downtown Minneapolis, on April 13, 1896. Notable conductors and accompanists of the ensemble include Henry S. Woodruff, Theodore Bergman, Elsie Wolf Campbell, William Rhys-Herbert, William MacPhail, James S. Allen, and Roger Hoel. The Apollo Club of Minneapolis was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame November 4, 2017.
Honored Members Honored membership may be granted to a member who has been an active member for 15 or more years, and has excelled in the following qualifications:
High qualities of Club leadership Unselfish dedication and service to the Club Ability to encourage, create and maintain a high degree of Club Morale Other unusual circumstances may be considered by the Board in its discretion
+Honored Members (Deceased)NameYear ReceivedMembership StatusBurton "Bud" W. BeidelmanDeceasedJ. Carlton BergDeceasedHarold BerginDeceasedWilliam BirchDeceasedWilfred BlandDeceasedDr. William H. CardDeceasedDean ChenowethDeceasedGerald M. Clark DeceasedArthur H. Conary DeceasedI.D. CooperDeceasedRichard CravensDeceasedW. M. Crosse DeceasedWalter G. DahlDeceasedDr. M.C. DumasDeceasedCharles B. EustisDeceasedGeorge B. EustisDeceasedE. Stanley FergusonDeceasedPhil FortinDeceasedWillie HaleDeceasedChanning Handberg Sr.1993DeceasedCharles E. HaseyDeceasedPercy E. HopkinsDeceasedJames A. HunterDeceasedLeRoy A. JohnsonDeceasedWilliam G. KuehneDeceasedFred Kuesel1997DeceasedDon JenkinsDeceasedFrank M. JoyceDeceasedGeorge L. LaVayeaDeceasedJohn E. LedbetterDeceasedGeorge H.Lugsdin DeceasedWilliam MacPhailDeceasedChristian W. MattsonDeceasedDr. Wayne H. MayDeceasedJohn Metzger2010DeceasedRobert MobergDeceasedJohn MoeDeceasedLeonard MogckDeceasedRoland F. MolvahnDeceasedEldon J. MorrisDeceasedClinton J. NelsonDeceasedGeneral Charles McCormick ReeveDeceasedRene T. ParadisDeceasedMerrill D. RobertsDeceasedF. M. Rutten DeceasedCol. Clair F. Schumacher DeceasedOscar SeagleDeceasedOmer A. Seim DeceasedRobert L. Swinton DeceasedEdwin W. ThompsonDeceasedOve H. UlringDeceasedOscar J. Van LanderDeceasedWilliam T. Walraven2017DeceasedGerald W. Wassmund DeceasedHoward T. Weber DeceasedC. William WestaferDeceasedTony WhaleyDeceasedFrank R. Wilson DeceasedHarry E. WoodDeceasedC. Emerson WoodwardDeceased +Honored Members (Living)NameYearMembership StatusAlvin Buss2022RetiredRoger S. Hoel2018RetiredAaron Humble2022RetiredDarren Jackson2026Active SingerNadia Johnson2018RetiredVerner Johnson2010Active SingerCurt McDougal2014Active SingerFranz Metzger2010Active SingerRichard D. Moseng Jr.2015Active SingerTimothy F. Nichols2022Active SingerRaymond Peterson2019Active SingerThomas Peterson2019RetiredRoger Renstrom1996RetiredThomas Wilson2014Retired
50-Year Members + Apollo 50-Year Members (1896–present)NameYearsLength of timeBurton "Bud" Beidelman1925 - 199166 yearsHarold Bergin1944 - 199450 yearsWilliam Card1900 - 195050 yearsDean Chenoweth1949 - 2016 67 yearsRichard Cravens1940 - 199050 yearsChanning Handberg Sr.1951 - 2007 56 yearsPercy Hopkins1940 - 199353 yearsRuthven "Rudy" Johnson1940 - 1990 50 yearsVerner Johnson1967 – Present59 yearsFranz Metzger1969 – Present57 yearsOscar J. VanLander1920 - 1970 50 yearsWilliam T. Walraven1969 - 202556 years
Choral Directors +Apollo Choral Directors (1896–present)NameYearsEmil Oberhoffer1896 - 1900Claude Madden1900 - 1901Charles A. Graninger1901 - 1902Hal Woodruff1902 - 1928William MacPhail1928 - 1948C. Wesley AndersonSpring 1948William MacPhail1948 - 1950C. Wesley AndersonSpring 1950Ralph Williams1951 - 1955James Allen1955 - 1962Oscar B. DahleSpring 1963James Allen1963 - 1966Murrae Freng1966 - 1970Oscar B. DahleSpring 1971Raymond Cutting1971 - 1977Roger S. Hoel1977 - 2012 Nadia Johnson 2012 - 2012Sean F. Vogt2013 - 2016 Aaron Humble2016 - 2022Chris McGinley2022 – Present
Past Presidents +Past Presidents (1949–present)NameYear(s)Oscar J. Van Lander1949 - 1950Eldon J. Morris1951 - 1952Luther Sletten1953LeRoy A. Johnson1954 - 1955Leonard H. Mogek1956John O. Laing1957Gerald Clark1958 - 1959Vincent Anderson1960J. Carlton Berg1961C. William Westafer1962Lawrence Whitely1963Roland Molzahn1964Dean Chenoweth1965Gerald Clark1966 - 1967Robert Moberg1968Omer Seim1969 - 1970Philip Fortin1971 - 1972Percy Hopkins1973 - 1974Alvin "Tony" Whaley1975Robert Swinton1976Channing Handberg Sr.1977Gerald Wassmund1978John E. Moe1979William D. Birch1980Frank Swensk1981John Madson1982Pete Mulvaney1983 - 1984Lowell Koenig1985Roger Renstrom1986 - 1987Tom Wilson1988Tomm Johnson1989 - 1990Phil Fortin1991Rich Westin1992Ray Peterson1993John Metzger1994Rich Moseng1995 - 1996Tim Nichols1997 - 1998Tomm Johnson1999 - 2000Curt McDougal2001Greg McCormick2002Wayne Boerger2003Tomm Johnson2004 - 2005Roger Wambheim2006 - 2007Tom Wilson2008 - 2009Ray Peterson2010 - 2011Craig Gerdes2012Tom Peterson2013Darren Jackson2014 - 2015Ray Peterson2016 - 2017Mark Bliven2018MacKenzie Young2019 - 2022Bill Kaemmerer2023 - 2025 Tyler Frankhouse2025 -
Regular Concerts +DateConcert nameLeadership C: Conductor
A: AccompanistLocationSongs performedGuest artist11/1948Apollo 54th Season - 1st ConcertC: William MacPhail A: James S. Allen
A: Robert W. MagnusonLyceum Theatre Minneapolis, MN Hymn to Creation The Day of Judgement Pilgrim's Song Traume (Miss Heidt) Standchen (Miss Heidt) Ruhe meine Seele (Miss Heidt) Cacile (Miss Heidt) Dedication Ave Maria Largo al factotum della citta Black Roses (Heidt) Once a Lady was Here (Heidt) A Letter to Freddie (Heidt) Deborah (Heidt) Bird of Wilderness (Heidt) Morning Steal Away Roll, Chariot! Onward, Christian SoldiersWinifred Heidt04/1949Apollo 54th Season - 2nd ConcertC: William MacPhail
A: James S. Allen
A: Theodore Bergman
A: Robert W. Magnuson
A: Richard ZgodavaLyceum Theatre Minneapolis, MN Hymn to the Eternal Cherubim Song Hospodi, Pomiloi Lamento di Federico (Lanza) La donna e mobile (Lanza) Impatience Twilight Fete Polonaise The House of the Top of the Hill (Lanza) Tell Me, O Blue, Blue Sky (Lanza) Mattinata (Lanza) Down by the Old Bayou Joshua Fit De Battle Ob Jericho Chorus of Bacchantes March of the MusketeersMario Lanza11/1949Apollo 55th Season - 1st ConcertC: William MacPhail A: James S Allen
A: Theodore BergmanLyceum Theatre Minneapolis, MN Hallelujah Chorus, Beethoven The Long Day Closes A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Recondita armonia (Conley) Il mio tesoro (Conley) Allerseelen Grief Land-Sighting Ah, Moon of My Delight (Conley) Finnegan's Wake (Conley) Swans (Conley) Beloved (Conley) Gloucestershire Wassail La Serenata The Hills of Home Rolling Down to RioEugene Conley04/1950Apollo 55th Season - 2nd concertC: William MacPhail A: James S Allen
A: Theodore BergmanLyceum Theatre Minneapolis, MN Grant Us to Do With Zeal Come, Sweet Death Cum Sancto Spiritu Non più andrai (London) Monologue, from "The Emperor Jones" (London) Dedication A Tremor's in the Branches Nightingale, Thy Sweetest Song Bird in Air Will Stray Afar From Yon Hills the Torrent Speeds Coronation Scene Go Down, Moses (London) Because I Were. Shy (London) Lord Randal (London) Sailor's Life (London) You'll Never Walk Alone The Sleigh Ride Deep River Galloping SongGeorge LondonMissing 1951 - 1958 info12/1959Apollo 1959 Fall ConcertC: James S. Allen C: William MacPhail
A: Theodore Bergman
A: Dan GrahamLyceum Theatre Minneapolis, MN Veni Jesu SOnata Adventa and Fugue E lucevan le stelle (O'Neill) Nessun dorma (O'Neill) Che gelida manina (O'Neill) Du Bist Die Ruh Die Mainacht The Peacocks The Bachelor Preach me not your musty rules (O'Neill) The Swan (O'Neill) A Dream (O'Neill) Heart Cry (O'Neill) Lida Rose Till There Was You Seventy Six TrombonesCharles O'Neill04/1960Apollo 1960 Spring ConcertC: James S. Allen C: William MacPhail
A: Theodore Bergman
A: Dan GrahamSoul's Harbor Auditorium (Formerly Lyceum Theatre)
Minneapolis, MN Star-Spangled Baner Laudamus Send Forth Thy Spirit Great and Glorious Hallelujah Chorus (Beethoven) Che faro senza Euridice (Nikolaidi) Dido's Lament (Nikolaidi) Una voce poco fa (Nikolaidi) Magdlein Im Walde Come To Me In My Dreams Gram Stomp Your Foot Layarni (Nikolaidi) Habanera (Nikolaidi) Songs My Mother Taught Me (Nikolaidi) Summertime (Nikolaidi) Surrey With the Fringe On Top We Kiss in the Shadow Bewitched Wunderbar Almost Like Being in Love So In LoveElena NikolaidiMissing 1960 - 1982 info04/1983Apollo 1983 Spring ConcertC: Roger S Hoel A: Earl BuysOrchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN Behold Man Nunc Dimittis The Night Hospodi Pomiloi Better Watch Your Behavior (artist) Ah Been 'Buked (artist) Rockin' Jerusalem (artist) Ezekiel Saw De Wheel (artist) Wait on the Lord (artist) The Pasture A Nun Takes the Veil Bridal Party Honr! Honor! Every Time I Feel the Spirit Summer Evening Den Store, Hvide Flok Halsa Dem Darhemma Take the "A" Train (artist) Satin Doll (artist) Celebration (artist) Lilli Marlene Lida Rose Till There Was You George M. Cohan Patriotic FantasySounds of BlacknessMissingMissing Fall 83 through Fall 8605/198792nd Anniversary Spring ConcertC: Roger S. Hoel
A: Nadia JohnsonOrchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN O Sing Unto the Lord O Vos Omnes Salve Regina Send Forth Thy Spirit The Gamble Folk Songs She is My Slender Small Love Goin' Home The Bells of St. Mary's I Could Have Danced All Night I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face On the Street Where You Live The Gamble Folk Songs Ole Ark's A-Moverin Honor! Honor! Soon-Ah Will Be Done Little Innocent LambThe Gamble Folk12/198793rd Anniversary Fall ConcertC: Roger S. Hoel
A: Nadia JohnsonOrdway Music Theatre St. Paul, MN
Orchestra Hall
Minneapolis, MN Cry Out and Shout Angelus Domini Salvation Belongeth To Our God Cherubim Song Selection of Spirituals (Hale) Halsa Dem Darhemma Den Store, Hvide Flok Norge, Mit Norge In Dulci Jubilo Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella Oh Po' Little Jesus Candlelight Carol Caroling, Caroling The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy Christmas Carol MedleyWillie Hale Sandford Moore04/198893rd Anniversary Spring ConcertC: Roger S. Hoel
A: Nadia JohnsonOrchestra Hall Minneapolis, MN Cry Out and Shout O Vos Omnes Cherubim Song Hungarian Rhapsody, No 2 (Bailey) Bell of the Ball (Bailey) Brazilian Sleighbells (Bailey) Stella by Starlight (Bailey) Hallelujah Chorus (Bailey) O Sing Unto the Lord She Is My Slender Small Love Salvation Belongeth To Our God Come Again, Sweet Love John Peel There's No Business Like Show Business Show Tunes by Berlin (Bailey) Alexander's Ragtime Band When the Saints Go Marchin' In Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans (Bailey) South Rampart Street Parade Big Band Sounds (Bailey) Benny Goodman Medley You'll Never Walk AloneRosemary Bailey12/19881988 Fall Christmas ConcertC: Roger S. Hoel
A: Nadia JohnsonWorld Theater St. Paul, MN
Ordway Music Theatre
St. Paul, MN Tollite Hostias Ave Verum Listen To The Sounds in Heaven The Virgin's Slumber Song Shepherds, Awake O Yule, Full of Gladness Psallite (Angelica) Alleluia (Angelica) The Bells on Christmas Eve (Angelica) Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (Angelica) Rejoice! (Angelica) Frostiana - The Road Not Taken - The Pasture - Come In - The Telephone - A Girl's Garden - Stopping By The Woods - Choose Something Like a Star