Join us for a a very special performance celebrating the release of Bruno Råberg’s debut solo bass album, Look Inside.
Bassist Bruno Råberg melds a lifetime of inspiration and experience into hisstunning debut solo bass album. Look Inside, culls influences from throughout Råberg’s notable career, including jazz standards, free improvisation and world music influences.
Saturday, September 16th, 2023 | 1pm | $15; $7 for SCC Members | tickets
ACCOLADES:
“Råberg is a bass virtuoso, a sophisticated composer, a seasoned veteran of jazz and other musics, and a respected teacher [with] an enormous sound.”– Steve Elman,The Arts Fuse
“[Råberg is] an agile bassist and strong soloist, with a great sound, whether walking or arco.” –Dave Jones,Jazz Journal
You’ve hear of fairy walks, right? Join us for a special Icelandic twist on the idea as we celebrate everything Huldufólk (Iceland’s hidden people) for Huldufólk: An Enchanted Dwellings Walk and Celebration.
This is an enchanting adventure inspired by the hidden world of the Huldufólk, Iceland’s elusive and magical hidden folk.
🌟 Event Highlights 🌲:
🍃 Self Guided Huldufólk Journey: Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Icelandic legend as you walk the grounds discovering dwellings and learning about the folklore. Vote for your favorite creations!
🧙♂️ Interactive Stations: Encounter whimsical stations, where you can partake in Icelandic inspired activities, craft unique Huldufólk trinkets, and leave offerings for the mystical beings.
🎶 Ethereal Music: Be transported by the haunting melodies of Icelandic music, creating an ambiance that resonates with the spirit of the Huldafolk.
🎭 Folklore Costume: Not necessary, but costumes that pays homage to the Huldufólk and other mythical creatures highly encouraged.
🛍️ Shop: Visit our carefully selected vendors and bring home some magical reminders of the day. Want to be one of our magical vendors? Please fill out an application here.
📸 Photo Moments: Capture the enchantment at picturesque photo spots that highlight the natural beauty of the landscape and your journey with the Huldufólk.
🎟️ Ticket Details 🎫:
$7pp, $25 family pack of 4
Children under 2: Free
This is event has been made possible by the generosity of:
As part of our celebration of Huldufólk (Iceland’s hidden people) we present The Seer and the Unseen.
Set against the spectacular landscape of Iceland, THE SEER AND THE UNSEEN follows Ragnhildur “Ragga” Jónsdóttir, a grandmother and “seer” who has the ability to communicate directly with a parallel realm of elves — invisible spirits of nature that over half of Iceland believes in. As a respected seer, government officials, businesses and individuals ask Ragga to consult the elves to learn where they can and cannot develop land. But not everyone listens. The elves enlist Ragga to help save an ecologically important lava field set to be razed by road construction — just one of the many needless development projects spurred by Iceland’s sensational financial meltdown in 2008. THE SEER AND THE UNSEEN follows Ragga’s fight to protect this elfin landscape, exploring the human relationships to nature, economy and the enchanting power of belief.
Saturday, September 30th | 2pm | $10; $5 for members | tickets
The Aurora Ensemble brings a world premiere performance to our Nordic Hall titled Midnight Sun with Arias and Dance Music from Old Scandinavia!
Join us for a magical and fantastical mid-summer themed program of Scandinavian music performed on historical instruments from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The program will feature a variety of composers and pieces from Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Demark. Most excitingly, in collaboration with Bo Andersson of the Uppsala Universitet, the Aurora Ensemble will perform the new world premieres of several stunning pieces housed in the Düben Collection of Manuscripts in Uppsala, Sweden, including instrumental dance pieces by Andras Düben, a cantata by Swedish noblewoman Johanna Eleonora de la Gardie, and the only surviving piece composed by Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden.
Join us at Nordic Hall on August 19 to be a part of this historical event!
Saturday, August 19th, 2023 | 7pm | pay what you can – $20 suggested donation per person | register
Polarn O. Pyret, the leading brand in Sweden for kids, is holding a Sample Sale at the SCC on Sunday October 1st from 10am to 4pm in the Nordic Hall.
Come scoop up bargains in sizes newborn to age 12 years. All season and styles will be represented.
The brand’s famous and functional Nordic outerwear will also be available in all sizes. Savings up to 75% off original retail and a bunch of Grab ‘em Now Deals! Cash or credit and please. bring you own bag!
Join us for a book talk with author Anne Gass for her book We Demand: The Suffrage Road Trip, a historical fiction novel based on the true story of a 1915 road trip for the suffrage cause.
On holiday in San Francisco in 1915, Swedish immigrants Ingeborg Kindstedt and Maria Kindberg get swept up in a daring plan to promote women’s demand for voting rights. They must race by car across the country to deliver an ultimatum to Congress and President Woodrow Wilson. The roads are bad, and winter is fast approaching. Can they possibly arrive at the appointed day and time? Based on a true story.
ABOUT ANNE Anne B. Gass is the author of a nonfiction book about her great-grandmother, Voting Down the Rose: Florence Brooks Whitehouse and Maine’s Fight for Woman Suffrage, published in 2014. In 2021 she published We Demand: The Suffrage Road Trip, a novel based on the true story of an epic cross-country road trip for suffrage that took place in 1915. Gass is a frequent speaker on women’s rights history.
Gass is the Maine Coordinator for the National Votes for Women Trail and under their auspices recently completed a project to install seven roadside markers honoring suffragists around Maine. Since 2019 she has served as an appointed member of Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, where she leads their Program Committee. Her writing is inspired and informed by her activism.
Join your fellow community members for a rave-reviewed Northern Lights & Ring Road trip to Iceland this October 10-17! This adventure will cover a full circuit of the Icelandic Ring Road and will feature stunning natural sights like:
Aurora Borealis Northern Lights
Gleaming volcanic crater lakes
Jaw-dropping waterfalls
Majestic glaciers
Knowledgeable local guide
Personalized care and attention from tour manager Samantha Mandel
Traditional Icelandic delicacies
Pre-classes on Iceland culture and history
Fellow community members
And much, much more!
Want to hear more? Register for an information session or request a brochure, and read on for a sampling of what Iceland alumni had to say!
Iceland Northern Lights & Ring Road Trip Information Session Options:
Newton Session: Monday, June 26, 7-8:30pm, Scandinavian Cultural Center in Newton, zoom link available to registrants
Any questions? Reach out to organizer Samantha Mandel at (617) 564-1003 or samantha.a.mandel@gmail.com.
ABOUT SAMANTHA MANDEL: Samantha is an experienced tour leader based in Newton, MA who has planned and guided local groups abroad to destinations on almost every continent. She has a dedicated local fan base due to her meticulous trip planning, knowledgeable guiding, and boundless enthusiasm! She is the founder and CEO of Samantha Trips, LLC, a boutique tour operator that focuses on bringing community members together through educational travel and giving each traveler a tailored experience. Samantha speaks 5 languages and studied Icelandic sagas in college. She can’t wait to share her enthusiasm for this special country with you.
WHAT DO ICELAND ALUMNI SAY ABOUT THE TRIP?
Could not imagine a better tour leader out there!! Samantha’s meticulous attention to detail and continuous planning, enthusiasm, care and compassion, and eagerness to share knowledge were all above and beyond!
-Joan H.
Samantha is a phenomenal guide; just GREAT! The whole trip was a blast! Sorry but I don’t think it can improve; it was perfect.
-Lisa F.
Excellent itinerary and pre-trip information was invaluable. Samantha attempted to meet everyone’s needs beyond what I have ever experienced.
-Barbara K.
Amazing itinerary, extremely thoroughly and well-planned as well as real-time adjustments to accommodate changing customer needs and interests, weather, etc. Incredibly informative guides, wonderful trip leader and great group chemistry and camaraderie … a mix that will be hard to beat! In fact, one measure of how phenomenal the trip was is that 10 days later we are STILL talking about it.
-Joe H.
SOOOOO organized. Nothing was left to chance. Samantha’s footwork in preparation showed through. The miles flew by.
-Mark K.
This was the first time I have traveled with a tour group. Great selection of activities for all levels to participate, and excellent local tour guide was appreciated. Planning was outstanding. A very positive experience!
-Desiree F.
This was a first group trip for us. It set a high bar for any future trips we might do!
-Bridgida K. and David F.
“It was the best group trip that I have been a part of. Samantha was our smiling leader, always on top of the details for each participant and the group, making sure things happened smoothly.
Norumbega Lodge #3-506, Sons of Norway, will be offering an advanced level Norwegian language class on Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., at the ScandinavianLibrary in the Scandinavian Cultural Center, 206 Waltham St., West Newton, beginning on February 8th and running through April 19th. The focus will be on reading and discussing excerpts from Norwegian literature, history, language history, current events, etc.
The course will be taught by Luana Marie Jøsvold, M.A., Scandinavian Languages and Literature. Please let Luana know if you plan to attend. The size of the room will dictate the number of students we’ll be able to accommodate.
In the late 19th century, a young Danish priest travels to a remote part of Iceland to build a church and photograph its people. But the deeper he goes into the unforgiving landscape, the more he strays from his purpose, his mission and morality.
Presented as part of the Scandinavian Library’s film series.
In Danish and Icelandic with English subtitles | 143 minutes
Saturday, November 18th | 1pm | $10; $5 for SCC and Scandinavian Library members | tickets
ACCOLADES:
The Aurora Ensemble
ABOUT SAMANTHA MANDEL: Samantha is an experienced tour leader based in Newton, MA who has planned and guided local groups abroad to destinations on almost every continent. She has a dedicated local fan base due to her meticulous trip planning, knowledgeable guiding, and boundless enthusiasm! She is the founder and CEO of Samantha Trips, LLC, a boutique tour operator that focuses on bringing community members together through educational travel and giving each traveler a tailored experience. Samantha speaks 5 languages and studied Icelandic sagas in college. She can’t wait to share her enthusiasm for this special country with you.