The oldest men's choir in Norway

The Norwegian Student Choral Society (DnS) is Norway's oldest public male choir. The society was established as early as 1845 and has since been instrumental in the development of the Norwegian male choir tradition. Today, DnS is a modern choir that sings innovative and classical music both in Norway and internationally.

The choral society

Since its establishment in 1845, the Norwegian Student Choral Society has been a driving force in Oslo's and Norway's musical life. The choir has taken on a special responsibility for preserving the national-romantic male choir tradition. The choir has premiered numerous well-known pieces, including the Norwegian national anthem

The society is particularly renowned for its national day concert 17th May at Universitetsplassen, an annual event that has been ongoing since 1864, except during the war years. Since its inception, the society has embarked on exciting trips and tours in Norway and abroad, maintaining a particularly close relationship with other Norwegian and Nordic student choirs.

Today, the society continues to contribute to Norwegian musical life by holding several annual concerts, excelling in national and international competitions, and commissioning and performing new Norwegian male choir music.

Photo: Unknown

The conductor

Photo: Lars Gunnar Liestøl

Marit Tøndel Bodsberg Weyde is one of the country's leading conductors. She has been the conductor of The Norwegian Student Choral Society since 2016. Marit teaches conducting at the Norwegian Academy of Music and serves as the chief conductor of Kilden Vokalensemble in Kristiansand. Additionally, she is the conductor and artistic director of The Women’s Choral Society of the University of Oslo (KSS).

Marit has collaborated with several of Norway's foremost choirs and orchestras. As a conductor, flutist, and church musician, she has built a broad knowledge base. With her energetic nature and musical dedication, she is not only a popular conductor but also an inspiring educator and sought-after seminar leader.

She has received multiple conducting awards, both in Europe and in Norway. Marit has contributed to numerous recordings as a conductor and artistic director.

The choirs

The Norwegian Students' Choral Society currently has two active choirs tailored to singers with different expectations to activity. The choirs frequently perform joint concerts and embark on shared trips both within Norway and abroad. Both choirs hold weekly rehearsals in Oslo on Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Main choir

The Main choir consists of approximately 55 singers performing a repertoire encompassing both contemporary and classical male choir music, maintaining high ambitions. The Main Choir participates in prestigious international competitions and records innovative works. There's an expectation of individual practice between rehearsals, and singers are required to perform without sheet music during concerts.

DnS Pluss

Comprising around 35 singers, DnS Pluss maintains a high artistic ambition but with a slightly lower activity level compared to the Main choir. This choir primarily focuses on classical male choir music and holds multiple concerts throughout the year.

Conductor of DnS Pluss is Endre Aaberge Dahl, who has been conducting DnS Pluss since 2019. He holds a bachelor's degree in performing classical singing from the NTNU Department of Music in Trondheim and a master's degree in opera from the Opera Academy in Oslo. Apart from conducting, Endre is an active freelance tenor, performing both as a soloist and ensemble singer.