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July 3, 2001

Luther to host 38th annual Institute in American Studies for Scandinavian Educators

DECORAH, Iowa - Thirty-one professional educators from the Scandinavian countries will study America's history, society, economics and political systems July 6-29 at Luther College's 38th annual Thanks to Scandinavia Institute in American Studies for Scandinavian Educators.

Hosted and conducted by Luther College, the Institute in American Studies for Scandinavian Educators is supported by Thanks to Scandinavia, Inc., a New York-based organization that recognizes the spirit and the sacrifice of the people of Scandinavian countries who risked their lives and welfare to protect Jews from the Nazi holocaust during World War II.

The 2001 institute is dedicated to the memory of Victor Borge (1909-2000), internationally famous pianist, comedian and entertainer from Denmark.
Institute directors are Bruce and Barb Willis. Bruce Willis is professor of communication/linguistics at Luther College.

Each summer the institute invites educators from Denmark, Finland, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to the United States to study contemporary American life. The goal of the program is to increase awareness of the diversity and complexity of the United States and its people, society, economic system, government and political structures.

This year the institute's 31 participants and their four dependents include 15 people from Norway, nine from Sweden, nine from Denmark, one from Finland and one from Iceland.

In addition to the classes and educational trips conducted by the institute, the participants have opportunities for recreational activities, sight-seeing tours, shopping trips and visits to Nordic Fest, the Decorah community's annual four-day celebration of its Scandinavian heritage.

The 38th annual institute's honoree Victor Borge, born Borge Rosenbaum, was the son of Bernhard and Frederikke Rosenbaum. His childhood musical talent was no surprise as his father was a musician in the Royal Danish Chapel.

Borge was educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, and his piano debut in 1926 at Odd Fellow Palaeet Copenhagen earned him recognition as an outstanding musician. During the 1930s he became one of Denmark's most popular artists.

Borge began his entertainment career as a classical pianist, but his talent for making the audience laugh was soon obvious, and he developed a unique blend of humor and music. In 1940 the threat of occupation by Nazi Germany forced him to leave Denmark for New York City.

Although he did not speak English, he managed to "translate" his humor, and he performed in America for the first time on Bing Crosby's radio show in 1941. In 1942 he was named "the best new radio performer of the year" by the American press.

Borge became an American citizen in 1948.

His radio and television shows became popular favorites, and he had his own show, "Comedy in Music," at The Golden Theatre in New York from 1953-56. In addition to his comedy shows, he performed as soloist and conductor with leading orchestras across the United States and Europe for more than 35 years.

Borge received many awards and honors for his work. He established numerous trusts and was a patron of The Danish Royal Academy of Music Children's Choir.

With Robert Sherman he was the author of "My Favorite Intermissions," published in 1971, and "My Favorite Comedies in Music," published in 1981.
Victor Borge died at his home Dec. 23, 2000.

Copyright 2002 Luther College