Norwegian Student Choral Society
Premiering a number of well known pieces, including Norway's national anthem "Ja, vi elsker dette landet", the choir is most commonly known for their yearly outdoor concert at University Square on 17 May, the Norwegian Constitution Day.
As of 2016, the choir has around 60 active singers, who are conducted by Marit Tøndel Bodsberg.
In the World Choir Games of 2006, in Xiamen, China, it won first place in the male voice choir category and third place in sacred choral music Founder of The Norwegian Student Choral Society was Johan Diederich Behrens; and the "Johan Behrens Quartet", a male voice ensemble founded in 1843, formed the core of the first choir.
The initial reason for the formation of the choir was a wish, in the summer of 1845, to participate at the Nordic student meeting in Lund and Copenhagen.
The students contacted Behrens a short time before their departure to Copenhagen.
Behrens, at first, declined to assist in the formation of choir due to the limited amount of time they had left to rehearse.
He was eventually persuaded and accepted on the condition that he had the final word on which songs were rehearsed well enough for performance.
However, Behrens, wanting to focus on his studies, did not wish to continue as conductor; and passed on the job to Halfdan Kjerulf.
(21 November is later officiated as jubilee day) 1849 "Aftenunderholdning" in Christiania Theater.
Johan D. Behrens takes over from Halfdan Kjerulf as conductor 1861 Oslo University 50th anniversary.
Bjørnson, Welhaven, Vinje, Ole Bull and Halfdan Kjerulf amongst the guests.
"Studenter-sangforeningens Vise" by Bjørnson and "Fjellguten i songarlaget av studentar i Christiania" by Vinje composed for the event.
1868 Spring concert: "Aftenrøster" by Johan Svendsen performed for the first time.
Bjørnson, Grieg, Jonas Lie, Andreas Munch and Theodor Kjerulf amongst the guests.
1872 Concert with Bazaar to raise funds for the restoration of Trondheim cathedral.
Concerts in Drammen, Arendal, Christianssand, Paris, Le Havre and Christiania.
Performances in Drammen, Arendal, Christianssand, Paris and Le Havre.
1906 Rikard Nordraaks monolith in Berlin unveiled, with participation by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and the Student Choral Society.
1908 Denmark tour with concerts in Copenhagen, Roskilde, Aarhus, Odense and Nyborg.
1922 Sørland tour with concerts in Sanderfjord, Skien, Larvik, Arendal and Kristiansand.
1923 Northern Norway tour with concerts in Lillehammer, Trondheim, Namsos, Mosjøen, Bodø, Melbu, Harstad, Tromsø, Hammerfest and Sandnessjøen.
Trondheim Student Choral Society visit Kristiania for the first time 1928 West Coast tour with concerts in Bergen, Haugesund, Stavanger, Flekkefjord and Kristiansand.
1948 Tour to Møre, with konserts in Gjøvik, Hamar, Kristiansand, Molde, Ålesund and Åndalsnes.
1960 Northern Norway tour with concerts in konserter i Tromsø, Harstad, Svolvær and Bodø.
1980 Øyvind Otterstad steps down as conductor, Sverre Bruland temporarily appointed.
"Natten skrider förbi" by Knut Nystedt performed for first time at anniversary concert.
"Kullervo-symfoni" by Jean Sibelius performed together with the Oslo Philomonic and choir.
2008 Thomas Caplin steps down as conductor, Ketil J.B. Belsaas appointed on temporary basis.
