Kongero with Special appearance by ISU’s Cantamus

What:                  Kongero with special appearance by ISU’s Cantamus

Where:                Stephens Auditorium

Date/Time:       Fri., Dec 5 at 7 p.m.

Tickets:              General Admission – $15 Adults – $5 ISU and Youth under 18

Ames, IA – Swedish folk’appella group, Kongero, will host a performance at Stephens Auditorium as part of their four-week U.S. tour on Fri., Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.  For a portion of the performance, they will be joined by ISU treble voice choir, Cantamus.  Tickets are on sale now through www.ticketmaster.com or at the Stephens Auditorium Ticket Office. General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for ISU students and youth under 18.  Additional charges may apply at point of purchase.

“We are excited to welcome Kongero to Ames as part of their U.S. tour, “said Tammy Koolbeck, Stephens Auditorium Executive Director.  “In June, Kongero and Cantamus performed together in Stockholm, Sweden after a few days of workshops and herding calls.  It made sense to get them to Ames so we could welcome them as they welcomed our ISU students this past summer.”

Kongero is a Swedish vocal group, consisting of the four female folk music singers Lotta Andersson, Emma Björling, Sofia Hultqvist Kott, and Anna Wikénius. Kongero was formed in 2005 when the original members all met at a Nordic folk music conference. There they started singing together and found that their voices and harmonies blended perfectly, complimenting each other’s voices. Since 2005, they have performed their polyphonic a capella folk music (which they coin Folk’apella) all over Europe, Asia and the Americas, singing in concerts and leading workshops in traditional Swedish vocal music and vocal harmonies. 

“Welcoming and working with Cantamus in Stockholm this past summer was true joy! Their energy was so inspiring. So many voices blending into one under the elegant conducting of Dr. Rodgers. They really managed to touch the audience in Stockholm with their powerful performance,” said Anna Wikenius, Kongero founder.  “We can’t wait to once again share both stage and many laughters with Cantamus. We are so much looking forward to our joint concert at Stephens Auditorium in Ames, now as guests at their home arena.”

“Our experience with Kongero could not have been more impactful for the Cantamus choir. They introduced us to so many aspects of Swedish music, including herding calls and Sami indigenous musicians,” said Dr. Jennifer Rodgers, ISU Assistant Director of Choral Activities.  “But their own spirit and vocal blend is what has stayed with us and has us so excited to welcome them to Ames! They are the definition of talent and soul in a perfect blend!”

Kongero’s repertoire consists of traditional and original songs and tunes arranged by the band members. Kongero’s music tells tales of life, with moving love songs, dramatic medieval ballads, witty ditties, and spirited dances, in their native Swedish tongue. Traditionally, Swedish songs were sung solo by a woman, with Swedish mouth music most often performed solo by a man. Kongero’s polyphonic music is characterized by tight harmonies, inciting rhythms, and the clarity of their beautiful voices that bring traditional Swedish folk song into modern times. 

About Cantamus

Cantamus is a treble-voice ensemble created in 2000 and is one of four major choral ensembles at Iowa State University. Singers are selected by audition, range in year from freshmen to graduate students, and come from many fields of study across campus. They all share an enthusiasm for new and challenging repertoire, along with a love for adventurous programming. Recent commissions include works by Jodi Goble, Brad Burrill, Pietro Ferrario, Ko Matsushita, Levente Gyöngyösi, Abbie Betinis, Eric Barnum, and Nathaniel Adams.

Cantamus features in at least four major concerts each year. The ensemble has received invitations to give solo performances at the 2024 MidWest ACDA Conference, the 2010 and 2004 North Central ACDA Conferences, the 2017 and 2013 National ACDA Conferences, and the 2004 National MENC/NAfME Convention. In the Summer of 2025, Cantamus toured to Finland and Sweden to perform with international folk quartets, Kardemimmit and Kongero, and compete in the Tampereen Sävel international vocal festival where they were awarded the highest ranking of three gold stamps.

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Stephens Auditorium Ticket Office: Located at the north entrance of Stephens Auditorium – enter from Center Drive or Beach Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tues. – Fri. and 90 minutes before show time.