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On the 40th anniversary of its founding, now is a good time to look back at how this group of performers started their musical journey—- twice.

That’s right. Twice! First in 1985 and again in 1999.

Come see them perform in “And the Angels Sing” at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church on Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. 

The Chorale was originally formed by a small group of singers who had performed together in the early 80s at Chisago Lake Lutheran Church.Their first two choral works, directed by Bob and Rita Knutson, were: ‘Festival of Praise’ by Thurlow Spurr, and ‘He Lived The Good Life’ by Richard Wilson.

These performance events garnered singers and instrumentalists from North Branch to Scandia and attracted sizable audiences. That provided the impetus to form a more permanent community choir, and a core of singers started generating interest. Jim Iverson, church and high school choir director, accepted the invitation to direct, and Julie Lauritzen was chosen to be the accompanist.

Rehearsals started at Chisago Lakes High School in the fall of 1985, and 17 singers were on stage to present their first Christmas concert. 

Aside from Jim and Julie, the singers were: Barb Anderson, Larry and Tammy Avery, Chris Bjorkund, Joan and John Chouinard, Ruth and Bob Hiland, Joni Luger, Karen Marcio, George Nelson, Judy Schantzen, Marsha Smith, Jim Stafki, Ruth Christenson Stark, Pat Videen, and Patty Yechout

How did they get their name, you ask? At the first rehearsal the topic came up, and those present were supposed to supply name ideas to vote on that evening. Pat Videen suggested Unexpected Company, and Joan Chouinard came up with Jiversingers, a play on director Jim Iverson’s name.  Jim rejected any possible reference to his name, and so Unexpected Company it was!

This new group of singers attracted new members and performed two major concerts per year, Christmas and Spring. They disbanded in 1990 after running short of funds, and a grant application failed.

Chapter two—the rebirth of Unexpected Company

In 1999 two individuals pondered the likelihood of starting the chorale again. They were Bob Hiland (member of first group) and John Freed. They met and established a working relationship with The Masquers Theatre group in Forest Lake. They contacted Jim Iverson, and he accepted  the new arrangement. Things were set into motion with the group being renamed Masquer Singers. (This writer was invited to participate but, unfortunately, was unable to join, as I was deep in rehearsals with the Great Northern Union men’s barbershop chorus preparing for competition in Atlanta, Ga.) The Chorale’s first concert after reorganization was in April 2000 at the Scandia Community Center with 13 singers performing.

In 2001, the group became part of the Forest Lake High School Community Education Program and changed their name back to Unexpected Company. This gave them more stability, a choir room for rehearsals, a spacious concert auditorium and ample compensation for director and accompanist. 

In August of 2001 Jim Iverson sent a letter to all former chorale members inviting them to consider rejoining. Finally, my wife Joan and I were now able to join, yet again, the reborn Unexpected Company Chorale!

Then came the unimaginable event, winter 2002, when our beloved director, Jim Iverson, was grievously injured in a head-on accident and passed in January 2003. A fund-raising concert was held May 3, 2002 at Zion Lutheran Church with Dave Seaburg acting as guest director.

Dave Seaburg was named the new director with Christmas and spring concerts to be held in 2003 and 2004 at the Forest Lake High School. At an important board meeting, it was decided that the Chorale be moved back to Chisago Lakes. And, in the spring of 2005 the chorale returned to Chisago Lakes High School as part of their Community Education Department. The first Christmas concert was performed with our new accompanist Winnie Benson at the keyboard for her Unexpected Company debut!

 An active board of directors was established and a charter and bylaws were approved by the board on June 1, 2010. Under the direction of Dave, the chorale was very involved in community events along with their usual spring and holiday concerts. Some of the events were: home shows, the Vietnam Wall of Healing, Relay for Life, corporate and church dinners, concerts in the park, the Fairview Festival of Trees, shopping center caroling, and popular cabaret shows at the Scandia Creamery hall. 

After almost 10 years of directing, Dave retired in 2012 and moved to Arizona. Following a formal interview process of candidates, Lynnette Welsch was chosen as our next director. She did a magnificent job of stepping in front of our group of 34 singers preparing for a concert involving violin, flute and other instrumentation. Lynnette was only able to serve in that position for a short time before she retired to tend to an ailing husband.

And then, Ken Cheney entered the picture in 2013—- and that story will be saved for another chapter in the ongoing history of Unexpected Company.   

    

    

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