From its inception in June of 1998, the Swedish American Children’s Choir has grown to become the largest Swedish Choir for children in the Midwest! With over 250 performances in twenty-eight years, the choir has gained a reputation for performance excellence. Singers ranging in age from 4-18 have traveled throughout the Midwest and Chicagoland area. The choir has quickly sparked interest in Swedish heritage and has become a repeat performer for numerous organizations, festivals, and conventions. They have completed 12 performance tours outside of Illinois, including performances at Mall of America, the Twin Cities, and numerous locales in Wisconsin, including Door County.
In 2025, they were chosen to perform on the Main Stage at Mall of America. They have also been featured performers on WGN TV in Chicago and have headlined the Scandinavian Festival of Wisconsin. They have performed at such notable venues as American Girl Place and for the National Convention of the American Union of Swedish Singers. They were chosen as a featured choir for the Chicago Cultural Alliance-Inherit Chicago Singers music series. They have also performed at North Park University in Chicago and North Central College in Naperville, as well as the opening night performers for two District Conventions for the Midwest Division of the American Union of Swedish Singers. They have been performers for the Grand Opening of IKEA-Bolingbrook and also at IKEA in Schaumburg and Minneapolis on numerous occasions. They are annual main stage performers for Swedish Days in Geneva, IL – one of the largest community festivals in Illinois.
The choir is under the artistic direction of the choir’s founder, Marguerite Karl.
OUR STORY
The Swedish American Children's Choir
Emma Hess
Staff Accompanist
Emma has served as the choir’s Staff Accompanist since 2018. She has toured extensively with the choir and accompanies all performances.
Emma began playing the piano at age 5 and studied the flute at age 10. She remained active in music throughout high school and was a frequent soloist on flute and piano at her church in Batavia.
She was a member of the Northern Illinois University Huskie Band, served on the leadership team, and played piccolo. She graduated from NIU with a degree in Middle School Education.
She is currently a middle school math teacher and the Director of Youth and Family Ministry at Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia.
She is of Swedish heritage on her mother’s side.
Artistic Leadership
Marguerite Karl
FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Marguerite Karl, Founder and Artistic Director of the Choir, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music from North Park University. She has done extensive graduate work in Vocal Performance at Northwestern and Northern IL Universities. She has distinguished herself as a solo performer, having appeared as the guest soprano soloist with numerous classical organizations including the Illinois Chamber Symphony, Downers Grove Choral Society, Naperville Chorus, and DePaul University Chorus, as well as the DuPage Opera Theater and the Chicagoland Theatrical Troupe. She appeared twice as the guest soloist with the 250-voice American Union of Swedish Singers Midwest Grand Concerts in Illinois and was a headline solo performer for their National Convention Grand Concert. She has appeared as a frequent guest soloist with the Chicago Swedish Glee Club and Waukegan Swedish Glee Club. She has presented solo recitals in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Chicago, and St. Charles. She has also appeared as the National Anthem Soloist for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Kane County Cougars.
As an educator, she has taught all levels of classroom and choral music, from Grades K-High School, served as a High School Swing Choir director, and was a college voice instructor. She has also served as a vocal adjudicator for the IHSA solo/ensemble contests.
Mrs. Karl’s ancestry is Swedish on her mother’s side. As a child she grew up in a bi-lingual home and minored in the Swedish language in college. She has received a medal from King Carl Gustav of Sweden for her music accomplishments in the Chicagoland Swedish community.
Margaret Lekander
STAFF VIOLINIST & INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC COORDINATOR
Margaret has played violin since 4th grade and throughout Batavia High School. During that time, she also studied solo violin privately.
She began playing in the Batavia community with the First Baptist Church worship team. There, a bluegrass trio formed and performed at the dedication of the Fox River in Geneva. Following that performance, additional musicians joined, and the group played annually at Swedish Days in Geneva. Eventually, Swedish Folk, a Scandinavian instrumental ensemble, was formed. Margaret has led all of these ensembles.
Margaret has been a featured violin soloist with the choir since 2012 and has led the Swedish Folk ensemble since 2022.
Louisa Olsen
ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR
Louisa is a former 11-year choir member and served as a Lucia Queen, Midsommar Queen, and a vocal and string bass soloist.
Louisa is in her second year as Assistant to the Director. She has a musical background, having played in both the St. Charles North High School and the Lawrence University Symphony Orchestras. She graduated from Lawrence with honors, earning a degree in Government.
She currently teaches private beginning lessons in string bass and piano. She is also an assistant in the early childhood program and runs the aftercare program at a local grade school.
Louisa’s Swedish heritage is on her mother’s side, whose great-grandparents immigrated to Chicago in the early 1900s.
Kristina Karl
Assistant to the director
Kristina was a charter member of the choir in 1999. She has served as our St. Lucia Queen of Light in 2004 and as Midsummer Queen in 2009.
She has studied vocal performance and clarinet for many years. She received her Certificate in Marketing from Elgin Community College and studied at DePaul University, majoring in elementary education.
She has served as a guest Santa Lucia Queen for several Swedish male choruses in the Chicagoland area, as well as for numerous fraternal organizations.
As an assistant to the director, she handles special event coordination. She is the mother of two singers in the choir.
Kristina is the great-granddaughter of Swedish immigrants on her mother’s side of the family.
Abra holds the distinction of being a charter member of the choir, having attended their very first rehearsal in 1999. She also served as the choir’s first Santa Lucia Queen of Light in 1999.
Abra was a 4-year member of the choir at St. Charles East High School. She went on to obtain her degree in Wellness and Massage and worked as a massage therapist. She is also licensed as a property and casualty insurance salesperson. Most recently, she is the founder of a nonprofit mother’s group - Mother Tree Gathering.
Abra is an assistant with the Lil’ Swedeheart level of the choir and serves as a liaison to choir parents. She is a choir parent of two singers in the choir.
Abra is of Swedish descent on both of her parents’ sides of the family. Her great-grandfather immigrated to the Fox Valley area in the early 1900s and was a tracklayer for the company that built Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia, which is where the choir rehearses.
Assistant to the director
Abra Harris
Instrumental Music Ensemble
Swedish Folk
Swedish Folk has accompanied the choir since 2022. They perform at all our annual concerts and festivals and have completed numerous tours outside Illinois with the choir.
They began in 2020 and have performed at Swedish Days and the Midsommar Festival at Good Templar Park, both in Geneva. They have also performed at special events in Vasa Park in South Elgin. They have performed for both the District 8 and National Conventions of the Vasa Order of America.
They appeared for the Norwegian Constitution Day in Park Ridge, IL, and at the Norsk Museum in Norway, IL.
They performed at Cranbrook Academy in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and at the Chiplis Country Market in Punxsutawney, PA.
Swedish Folk is led by Margaret Lekander.