UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Music Program

Elliot Wold

Elliot Wold PortraitElliot Wold was born in Barron, Wis., on Jan. 31, 1930. He earned his bachelor of music from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and then his master of music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 1966-68 he did additional post-graduate work at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., north of Chicago.

Wold joined the music faculty at UWRF in 1963, the same year as Nick Karolides joined English, Mary Barrett joined the Art Department, and Terry King joined the History Department. Wold served as department chairman from 1969-78 and again from 1994-97. It was during his tenure, in 1973, that the Kleinpell Fine Arts building opened, and the east wing was devoted entirely to music. For the first time in many years, all the members of the department were together in one place with spacious facilities. When Wold first came to River Falls, his office was on the third floor of South Hall facing south. There were also History Department offices on the third floor. The large windows were always left open in nice weather, and in the Spring and Fall, if you were walking through the heart of campus late in the afternoon, you could hear students singing or playing trumpets as the sound wafted over the lawns. The choirs rehearsed in 310 South Hall, at the top of the stairs. Other offices and studios were in Hathorn Cottage.

Wold taught private voice lessons, choral conducting, and vocal and choral pedagogy. He directed the University Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers. He guest conducted many choir festivals in high schools and universities throughout the upper midwest and was well known. He continued the tradition of touring begun by Nick Jadinak.  One year they would tour in the United States, usually throughout the midwest, and then they started to travel internationally. He was state Chairman of the American Choral Directors Association.

Wold was also a great showman and enjoyed showing off the talents of his choirs on American and international tours. Under his direction, the Concert Choir performed 11 international tours including Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Western Europe plus England and Scotland. The tours were an opportunity for Europe and Asia to learn of the talents of American college students, and for UWRF students to learn of other parts of the world and other cultures.  Many of the students felt their lives were changed forever by the experiences. And they had many adventures along the way.

In 1970, Wold was invited to participate in the production of a Medieval Madrigal Banquet Program at the university.  He sprang at the chance. He utilized both the Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers. The Theater Department graciously allowed the use of their costume collection, so everyone was dressed in an authentic 15th or 16th century costume, including the Master of Revelries, Wold himself. An authentic 15th century menu was served, without silverware since it has not yet been invented. Wenches and churls dressed in burlap bags served the dinner at Rodli, which was decorated with splendid medieval banners, a roast boar appeared, and Elliot and his choirs entertained with wonderful medieval music for several hours. The tradition continued for ten years. It was the best Madrigal Banquet in the upper midwest and hundreds of people from the Twin Cities, as well as people from River Falls, came each year to enjoy themselves.

The Christmas concerts at the university were always special events and important markers of the season. His choirs were always very well rehearsed and trained and the audiences appreciated the professionalism and beautiful music produced.

Wold also guest-conducted many other groups, including the Bach Society Chorus and Orchestra of the Twin Cities, the Eau Claire Arts Chorale, and a "British Cathedral Spectacular" at the St. Paul Cathedral in 1986.

When he retired from UWRF in 1998, Wold continued to lead Alumni Choir international tours, and UWRF music alumni have traveled to Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany, England, France, Switzerland, Austria, and other destinations. It was a great enrichment to everyone's life, an opportunity to maintain contact with good friends from university days, and always a chance for new adventures.

Wold passed away March 10, 2023, at the age of 93.

Contact Us

Music Department
music@uwrf.edu
715-425-3183
B46 Kleinpell Fine Arts

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