“A large part of my interest was in the Choir itself, and to get that to as high a degree of perfection as I was able to do.”
– Gunnar Malmin, July 3 1986
“The singers revealed masterly shadings of volume, beautiful coloring and thrilling control in difficult passages. Malmin directed with vigor and a certain amount of military preciseness. He brought forth a performance for which he has reason to be very proud… the enunciation of the group could serve as a model to many soloists as well as singing groups.” – John Oglesby, Sacramento Bee, February 27, 1956
Gunnar Malmin led the Choir of the West for nearly three decades, building on the successes of the Edwards era while expanding the reach of the group through larger tours and increased media engagements. Malmin took over during the hard days of the Great Depression and resigned shortly after the first intercontinental tour, serving as an important transitional figure between the humble beginnings of the choir and the renowned globe-trotting organization it would become.
During the Malmin era, the choir continued performing annual Christmas concerts and going on tour. Christmas concerts were held on campus and around the Tacoma area, including at the Fort Lewis Chapel, American Lake Hospital, the Winthrop Hotel, and on the deck of the USS Commencement Bay. The Christmas concerts were also frequently broadcast on Tacoma’s KMO and KTAC radio stations. While annual tours were limited by gasoline shortages during World War II, the group continued to perform throughout the West Coast, including California and British Columbia. Beginning in 1950, the group also visited the Midwest four times, following in the footsteps of their predecessors back in 1930.
The Choir of the West also began performing at more prestigious events during this period. In 1939, they performed for Norwegian Crown Prince Olav (King Olav V) and Crown Princess Märtha when the couple visited Washington State. That same year, the also played the San Francisco World’s Fair and the Hollywood Bowl as part of the State of Washington’s Golden Jubilee Celebration. During this time, the choir collaborated with the Tacoma Philharmonic twice for Mozart’s Requiem, of which the June 1, 1943 issue praised, “Before a note was sung, Gunnar Malmin’s imposing choir had captivated the audience for the glowing picture it presented – 45 singers in golden choral robes… a tapestry of harmony and contrast, melody and accompaniment which call forth the the utmost from soloists, orchestra, and choir with an effect which left Sunday evening audience stirred in its soul.”
In October of 1956, the Choir of the West also had its first, and to-date only, presidential performance, where the choir performed for a crowd of 8,000 and Dwight Eisenhower at a College of the Puget Sound event.
Radio performances continued throughout this era. In 1939, the Choir of the West also performed on their first nationwide broadcast, and they were featured weekly throughout Washington on a number of cooperating radio stations. Male membership, however, dipped to a low of 9 during World War II, before returning to normal numbers during the early 1950s. A notable member of the choir during this time was tenor soloist Charles Martin (Class of 1950). A World War II veteran originally from Kent, Washington, Martin was identified as one of “PLC’s musical greats” by the Tacoma News Tribune in October 1952. He would go on to perform on the Tacoma KMO’s weekly radio show, “Songs by Charles Martin,” which occasionally featured fellow Choir of the West soloist, Jean Hesla (Class of 1950). On December 10, 1955, the Choir of the West also made their television debut on Tacoma’s KTNT-TV Channel 11 as part of an educational series in cooperation with local schools presented by Ruth Bethel, county school superintendent.
“In general, when the ranks of the basses and tenors have of necessity been somewhat thinned, the loyalty and enthusiasm of the singers have largely compensated, and these war time choirs have risen to new heights artistically and, not least, spiritually.”
– Gunnar Malmin, Tacoma News Tribune May 5, 1945
Charles Martin and Jean Hesla
Gunnar Malmin also led the choir on their first European tour in the summer of 1963, which covered 9 European countries and consisted of 41 performances. The group of 58 singers arrived in Norway on June 1 and performed that day at the American Lutheran Church in Oslo. While in Norway, they held 28 concerts, one of which was attended by King Olav V. Following their performance in Trondheim, one Norwegian wrote, “Time after time we were thrilled by the choir’s beautiful harmony and rich tonal shadings… They could produce powerful fortissimos, but could also close a song with unusually sensitive pianissimo. It was a wonderful program, to the honor of both the director, Professor Gunnar J. Malmin, and the choir.”
During this tour, the Choir of the West performed in Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, and Holland. The group was widely praised in newspapers and honored at receptions, banquets, and parades. In addition to their performances, the choir enjoyed tourist attractions and the personal hospitality of people’s homes. Upon their return home, a PLU spokesman told the Tacoma News Tribune in the July 28 issue, “This was a triumphal tour – musically, spiritually, and educationally. The PLU Choir from Tacoma proved to be an excellent goodwill ambassador and in turn received growth which words cannot express.”
Gunnar Malmin left Pacific Lutheran College before the 1964-1965 academic year. During his last year, however, he continued his legacy of expanding the reach of the choir by leading the Choir of the West through a music and drama pageant, the annual Christmas concert, a Northwest tour, and a television appearance in Boise, Montana, before passing the baton to Maurice Skones.
1963 European Tour Media
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Newspaper coverage
Photographs
Gunnar Malmin was born April 9, 1903 in Thompson, Iowa. He graduated from Luther College in 1923. He spent a year doing archival work in Scandinavia, returning to the United States to attend St. Olaf College and sing in the choir there. He taught high school for two years, spent two years at Drake University in Iowa and then worked for seven years at Dana College in Nebraska. He received his Masters Degree from the University of Michigan.
Malmin came to PLC in 1937 to direct the Choir of the West. Under his leadership, the choir rose to new heights. The 1963 European tour was the peak of the Choir’s performance under Malmin. Norwegian newspapers unanimously lauded the choir’s performances there.
Malmin, a man of diverse talents, also taught languages. For a time, he was conducting the Choir of the West while not a member of the Music Department, but instead served officially as a Latin instructor. When Maurice Skones came to PLU in 1964, Malmin gave up the direction of the Choir of the West, but remained on the faculty teaching languages.
During his career, Malmin taught a year in Norway and a year at Camrose College in Alberta. He directed church choirs for 60 years and led Norwegian Male Choruses in Washington and South Dakota. He was a member of the Sons of Norway, Nordlandslaget, Norwegian American Historical Association and the Normanna Male Chorus. Malmin retired from PLU in 1969 and died in the summer of 2000.
Malmin married Dorothy Braun in 1929 and together they had four children: David, Olaf, Jon, and Anne Berg. Dorothy died in 1986. Malmin remarried in 1987, to Berna Holland Olson. Berna died in 1999 and Gunnar in 2000.
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1937-1940
1941-1945
1946-1950
1951-1955
1956-1960
1961-1964
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1937-1950
1951-1964
Gunnar Malmin
Press play below to hear Gunnar Malmin speak with Philip Nordquist on his time directing the Choir of the West. To hear the full interview, follow this link.
Press play below to hear Gunnar Malmin speak with Donna Mallonee on his time directing the Choir of the West. To hear the full interview, follow this link.
Grace Blomquist
Press play below to hear long-time English professor Grace Blomquist speak on the Choir of the West. To hear the full interview, follow this link.
Richard Nance
Press play below to hear Richard Nance describe Gunnar Malmin’s time with the Choir of the West. This is an excerpt from the Choir of the West 90th Reunion Concert.
90th Reunion Concert
Gunnar Malmin’s son Jon conducts members of the Malmin era Choir of the West at the 90th Reunion Concert.