Luncheon

            Grand Marshal and Speaker

Knut Brakstad was born in Molde, Norway in l956. Mr. Brakstad holds a university degree in theology, and has also studied law, journalism and languages. He attended universities in Germany, England and at St. Olaf College and Westmont College in the United States. He has also studied at the Norwegian Defense Academy. Mr. Brakstad's work experience includes Sterkoder Mekaniske Verksted in Kristiansund, The Norwegian Navy, Foreign Ministry of Norway, The Norwegian Church and the Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee. For the past 17 years, Knut Brakstad has been Private Secretary for His Majesty, the King of Norway. Knut Brakstad has also served as Vice President of the Norse Federation for 16 years. He has been honored by the King with the Order of St. Olav, and has received several foreign decorations.

      Entertainment by Honorary Marshal 
                         Laura Loge

Soprano Laura Loge’s expertise in Norwegian music comes from a long path of study of Scandinavian languages, cultures and music. With ancestry from the south-western coastal area of Norway, she pursued her interest by first attending Skogfjorden, Concordia Language Villages’ Norwegian village, and returning later as a counselor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College where she studied Norwegian and vocal performance. Her studies culminated in a year of studying Scandinavian Art Song and chamber music at the University of Stavanger Conservatory of Music where she lived with her Norwegian relatives and absorbed the local cultures and dialects. While there she also sewed and embroidered her own bunad, which, in honor of her ancestery, is of Rogaland style and Bjerkreim inspired embroidery. Laura will be accompanied by pianist Glenda Williams.
http://www.lauraloge.com/