Happening Perfectly: Rönninge Show Chorus

Happening Perfectly

The theme of Rönninge Show Chorus’ finals package could also describe the chorus itself: Made in Sweden, for the

World. For the third time (so far!), Rönninge took home the international chorus championship, bringing audiences to their feet with a finals package celebrating Swedish songwriters from hymn writer Carl Boberg to 80s glam metal band Europe and more!

The lively and intricate performance capped off the directing career of the chorus’ formidable and much-loved founder Britt-Heléne Bonnedahl, who is retiring as director to focus on coaching and teaching in her role as Sweet Adelines Master Faculty. “The idea to tell the story about Swedish music came immediately after our regional win,” said Rönninge Co-Director Anna Alvring. “We felt thrilled about the possibility of spreading awareness about our small country's contribution to music throughout history.”

The package included a 13-song medley.

“All the songs required their own skill, and quite a struggle with music rights, not to mention finals package paperwork,” said Anna. “Given the limited timeframe, the actual learning of this amount of material for the package (including the choreo) was a challenge.”

Riser space also proved challenging for the chorus, which has over 150 members, 146 of whom appeared onstage in New Orleans, “which is still a record for us,” said Rönninge Team Coordinator Maja Marklund.

With good leadership, education, sharing of the workload, and a chorus culture that “dares to keep high expectations in a loving way,” Maja said the chorus lives up to its motto, “Det är roligare att ha kul.” (English translation: “It’s more joyful to have fun.”)

Rönninge extends thanks to their collaborators: choreographer and visual coach Jan Alexandersson, arranger David Wright, coaches Sandi Wright, Sharon Babb, Peggy Gram, Rasmus Krigström, and Katarina Henryson, former member of famous Swedish a cappella group, The Real Group.

Rönninge mentally prepares for rehearsal with relaxation and visualization, and they take a six-week summer break, “which makes us all come back ‘hungry’ when rehearsals start in August,” said Maja. This year, with International competition earlier than usual, they had to leap right into preparations amid several community performances, but with everyone working together, Rönninge made it happen. “The majority of us have full-time jobs and families, so sharing the work required to take a chorus to this level is essential,” said Maja. “Both our musical and administrative leadership teams are quite large, and we of course have teams working on every aspect of performance and marketing. We make it very clear to anyone who aspires to join that everyone is expected to contribute more than ‘just’ singing.” Rönninge looks forward to a busy championship year as they transition to new leadership. Anna Alvring continues as director, supported by assistant director AnnaLena Rickardsson, who has been in the role for 10 years. Annika Krook, lead of quartets SALT and Milli Blink, will be new in the assistant director role.

In December, the chorus hosts its annual holiday show, Stjärnjul, which for the last three years has sold out performance venues that hold 10,000+ audience members. They are also raising money to bring “a reasonable-sized chorus” to perform their champion package in Louisville. “There are a lot of mixed emotions in the chorus,” said Maja. “We will be getting used to seeing Britt-Heléne in a different role, as a coach and mentor, and will miss her as our chorus center, but at the same time we feel very excited about the future.”

Inspiration from Rönninge Show Chorus

Maybe you heard some of the following inspirational quotes from Rönninge in New Orleans... • Quote: Det är roligare att ha kul!

“It is more joyful to have fun.” The statement originated with founder and director Britt-Heléne Bonnedahl. She calls it “an attitude for winners”!

• Quote: Do you want more?

Director Anna Alvring created this world championship shout out in Las Vegas (2017), where Rönninge won its second championship (the first was in Hawaii in 2013).

• Quote: It's all happening perfectly.

This statement by Britt-Heléne Bonnedahl is for “framing the championship mindset,” said Maja.

Rönninge Show ChorusMembers on Stage

Anette Gunnarsson Anette Johnsson Anette Steen Anita Edlund Ann Hagerman Ann Kvist Ann Ponton Klevestedt Ann-Louise Svensson Anna Alvring Anna Eriksson Anna Johansson Anna Måhl Anna Norström Anna Öhman Anna-Greta Strömberg Anna-Lena Rickardsson Anna-Märtha Bergfeldt Anneli Lagebro Annelie Norburg Jonsson Annette Molander Annika Arnvaller Annika Christensen Annika Dellås Annika Erlandsson Annika Gullberg Annika Johannesson Annika Krook Annika Larsson Annika Risberg Annika Torpner Astrid Palmér Barbro Ekholm Berit Wrebo Birgitta Een-Sternå Birgitta Holfve Britt-Heléne Bonnedahl Cajsa Nellåker

Camilla Ljung Carin Ländström Carina Dahlgren Catharina Gröndahl Catrin Junestrand Cecilia Moberg Cia Björzen Cim Nordström Cleòpatra Marcateus Eleonor Lindgren Elisabeth Mellin Elizabeth All Emma Nellåker Erika Rodin Eva Eriksson Eva Gullberg Eva Larsson Eva Losman Ragnå Eva Löthberg Eva P Sandberg Eva Pauli Eva Sandstrom Eva Stahl Eva Trillcott Evis Bergenlöv Ewa Hemberg Ewa Sundström Frida Glitterstam Frida Öhman Gill Doller Gunilla Mörtberg Gunilla Nilsson Helen Larhammar Helena Hjertén Helena Lindberg Ingela Hagberg Ingela Wikström Inger Junvik Ingrid Bergman Iris Hagbjörk Jeanette Gellervik Jennie Lindgren Johanna Nilsson Johanna Thorell Josefin Hero Karin Innings Karin Ljung Karin Mörtberg Karin Sjöblom Karin Tarre Olthoff Karin Winblad Katarina Blix Lundqvist Kate Sullivan Kerstin Brindbergs Kethy Benedek Kicki Jerre Kirsten Braun Kristina Lejon Laura Mardones Lena Gernandt Lena Mörth Lena Toyer Linda Anemyr Lis Ohlgren Lisa Nellåker Lisa Rolf Lisbeth Virta Liz Lundkvist Lotta Liljedal Maja Marklund Malin Ek Malin Nyman Malin Samuelsson Margareta Fält Maria Brannius Maria Gräntz Maria Homman Maria Lunell Maria Ovesson Maria Stålarw Marianne Hammarlid Marie Flink Marie Henriksson Jalonen Marie Magnusson Matilda Hagerman Matilda Lindgren Mona-Lisa Johannesson Naima Roos Meyer Paula Penttinen Pernilla Thaysen Petra Blixt Pia Brandt Rosmarie Karlsson Sara Glitterstam Sara Hårdén Sigrid Bergfeldt Sofia Häägg Sofia Sjöberg Susanna Berndts Susanne Kihlblom Susanne Larsson Tesla Neidenmark Trixie Löfberg Ulla Nyman Viktoria Wadman Ylva Lovén Yvonne Brinck Åsa Fagerström Åsa Ribbing