The Bert Stromholm Band

The Bert Stromholm Band (AKA The SAHS Band) feature Bert and Eric Johansson on the accordion, violinist Jeanette Baker, Walter Eriksson Jr.on drums and nyckelharpa, and Roy Johnson on guitar.

They are one of the leading Scandinavian bands on the East Coast.

Sonja Dalen

Sonja Dalen was born in Norway and came to the U.S. at three years old. During the war, as a young girl, she began singing for the Norwegian sailors in Brooklyn, New York. After taking time out to raise a family she resumed singing and studied in New York under Melvin Logen. She entertains at numerous Scandinavian festivities. Every dinner dance over the past 25 or more years that the Norwegian War Sailors (Krigseilers) have sponsored, she has volunteered to perform for their event. She did this in thanks and in memory of what they did to man all the merchant ships that crisscrossed the Atlantic under very dangerous conditions. She has also performed at two events attended by the Norwegian Royal family.

She returned to Norway in the early 80's for a few years and appeared on television, radio and many charity benefits. Sonja enjoys combining Norwegian and American songs in her programs, along with an occasional Italian aria. During the Midsummer Celebration she will be performing not only as a guest artist, but will also be joining the Bert Stromholm Band as a singer for your dancing and listening enjoyment during the evening's Midsummer Dance.

Jodie Trappe

Jodie is thrilled to be performing again at the Midsummer Festival! She will be accompanied by her grandmother (and first voice teacher!) Alice Wilhjelm. Since graduating cum laude from the College of New Jersey with a Bachelor’s of Music degree in Voice and Music Education, Jodie has been busy performing on both sides of the Hudson River. Some favorite credits include Eugenie in the off-broadway production of “Vincent,” Eva in “Kindertransport” at the Bickford Theatre, one of the Alices in the Women’s Theatre Company production of “A My Name is Alice,” and Edith in the Ridge Light Opera’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance.” Jodie has also done some independent film work (look for her in the sure to be horror-film cult classic “Last Rites of the Dead” hopefully coming to theatres near you this fall). She also teaches private voice lessons at the Linda Benanti Voice Studio in Kinnelon.

Oivan Ilo

OIVAN ILO (Oiva’s Joy) is a lively Finnish-American folk music group based in the Greater Boston area. They are seasoned veterans of Boston’s Scandinavian folk dancing scene, and play regionally at celebrations in New England’s Finnish communities, as well as nationally at FinnFests.

This midsummer’s line-up consists of 3 “pelimannia”, playing fiddles, accordions, mandolin, recorder, plus vocals (in Finnish and Swedish). Marianne Cygnel, the singer and player of one of the accordions, grew up in Kokkola, Finland, where she soaked up Swedish and Finnish rhythms and melodies. The fiddler Christine Anderson (daughter of Oiva) has roots in Evijärvi, Finland. They met in Boston, playing for Scandinavian dancing under the leadership of John Chambers, who plays all the above-mentioned instruments, and who then joined the band.

They will happily take requests.

Children's Club Skansen

Children's Club Skansen #147 was chartered in the summer of 1959 and included children from 5 to 13 years old. Membership has averaged from 15-40 children, many of who continue on to Vasastjarnan Junior Club. The club meets once a month at Viking Hall at Vasa Park.

Dalarna Children's Club

Dalarna is about having fun while sharing our Scandinavian heritage. Members are boys and girls ages 3 to 13, with many older youth and even young adults participating in the annual Lucia pageant. We learn simple folk dances, children’s games, crafts and songs.

The Club is sponsored by Lodge Linne of District Six of the Vasa Order of America. For more information, please contact Don Wahlig at (908) 790-9080.

Vasastjärnan Junior Folkdancers

Vasastjärnan Junior Club was chartered by the Vasa Order of America in 1952, and is the only teenage group in NJ District 6. The club has been continuously active for 54 years.

Our members are of Scandinavian descent, and between the ages of 12 and 21. We rehearse at Vasa Park several times a month, depending on our performance schedule.

For more information, please contact Eric Johansson at (973) 546-4849 or email Eric at Johansson@aol.com