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Karle Erickson

Karle Erickson

b. 1938

Dr. Karle Erickson is the Artistic Director and Conductor of World Voices, the Twin Cities based music ensemble that specializes in exclusively performing global music. During his ten years as Artistic Director and Conductor, the ensemble of voices and instruments has performed music from 62 countries and sung in 35 different languages. He and the ensemble have worked with such collaborators and renowned musicians as Sowah Mensah, Master Drummer from Ghana; Chochise Anderson, Chickasaw flutist; Gao Hong, Chinese pipa artist; Brent Michael Davids, composer and crystal flute player from the Mohican Nation; the Reverend Tony Machado from Puerto Rico; and Neil Newman, Cantor at Beth El Synagogue. When asked what continues to provide the excitement in working with World Voices, Dr. Erickson responded: “It is the professional energy and artistic stimulation that comes from working with singers, instrumentalists, dancers, composers and collaborators representing different cultures and countries. Each concert presents new artistic and educational opportunities as well as unique challenges.”

He is professionally known for his excellence as a conductor, clinician and educator, having directed over 500 festivals and clinics, all-state and honors choirs and church music festivals across the United States and internationally. He has been one of two American conductors for the Prague International Choral Festival and Competition in the Czech Republic.

Immediately prior to founding World Voices in 1996, he was Interim Conductor of the National Lutheran Choir in Minneapolis and the Bach Society of Minnesota. His artistic career included serving from 1980-94 as Professor of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College and Director of Choral Studies at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music from 1967-80. A graduate of St. Olaf College, Dr. Erickson holds Master's and Doctorate Degrees from the School of Music, University of Illinois.

A life member of ACDA, he served as Wisconsin President and North Central Division President. As an active member of the International Federation for Choral Music, he served as a presenter of African and South American choral music at the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis. He is a recipient of ACDA of Minnesota's highest honor: the distinguishing F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award.

His choral arrangements are published by MorningStar Music Publishers, Kjos Music Publishers, Augsburg Fortress Press and GIA Publications. A set of vocalises for choral singers of all ages entitled Choral Warm-ups from A to Z: Singing Dr. Seuss's ABC is issued by Hinshaw Music, Inc.

Dr. Erickson and his wife, Hannah Marie, live in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where he is also the Canticle Choir Director at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

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  1. Choral Calls to Worship, Volume 3: Fall Seasons and Festivals
    SKU: 50-6520*
    SATB a cappella, Opt. Organ, Brass Quartet
    Erickson, Karle
  2. Choral Calls to Worship Volume 2: Lent, Easter, Pentecost
    SKU: 50-3053*
    SATB a cappella, Opt. Keyboard, Brass Ensemble, Brass Quartet
    Erickson, Karle
  3. Praise and Honor and Wisdom and Thanks
    SKU: 50-5001*
    SATB a cappella, Organ or Piano, opt. Brass Quartet,
    Erickson, Karle; Wagner, Georg Gottfried
  4. Choral Calls To Worship Vol. 1 - General
    SKU: 50-6510
    SATB a cappella, opt. Trumpet, Handbells
    Erickson, Karle
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