Ebba Sundstrom Nylander Explained

Ebba Sundstrom Nylander (February 26, 1896 — January 5, 1963) was an American violinist and conductor, director of the Women's Symphony Orchestra of Chicago in the 1930s. She may have been the first American-born woman to conduct a full symphony orchestra.[1]

Early life

Ebba Sundstrom was born in Lindsborg, Kansas, a settlement of Swedish-immigrant farmers where her father was a carpenter.[2] Both of her parents were musical, as founders of Lindsborg's Bethany Oratorio Society. She learned piano and violin as a child, and began performing for audiences and teaching violin when she was still a young teenager. She studied at the Minneapolis School of Music under Richard Czerwonky.

Career

In the 1920s and 1930s, Sundstrom maintained a busy performing schedule, regularly appearing on stages in Chicago and Minneapolis, and in live radio concerts.[3] [4] She also taught violin at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago.[5] In 1929, she took over from Ethel Leginska the director position with the Woman's Symphony Orchestra of Chicago.[6] After seven seasons conducting the orchestra,[7] she took leave in 1937 for "study and travel".[8] [9] She did not return to the conductor's post, but by 1941 was teaching at North Park College,[10] and conducting the school's orchestra,[11] until she resigned from North Park in 1951.[12]

Sundstrom often played with and for Swedish-American cultural groups, including the United Swedish Singers of Chicago,[13] The Swedish Old People's Home Society,[14] and the American Daughters of Sweden.[15] She was one of the first members of Altrusa in Chicago, and appeared on Altrusa programs as a presenter.[16] She was president of the Women's Music Club.[17]

Personal life

Ebba Sundstrom married Victor T. Nylander, a dentist who taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1920 to 1937.[18] They had a son, Reinhold Nylander, born in 1930.[19] She was widowed when Victor died in 1962. Ebba Sundstrom Nylander died in 1963, aged 66 years.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Ruth de Young, "Ebba Sundstrom: A Musical Figure of Rare Quality" Chicago Sunday Tribune (December 8, 1935): 98. via Newspapers.com
  2. Irene Steyskal, "A Prairie Girl Hitches Wagon to Music Star" Chicago Daily Tribune (July 19, 1936): NW1.
  3. Edward Moore, "Ebba Sundstrom Plays a Recital" Chicago Daily Tribune (October 28, 1921): 19. via Newspapers.com
  4. Elmer Douglass, "Violin Recital, Group of Songs, Delight Elmer" Chicago Daily Tribune (July 27, 1927): 14. via Newspapers.com
  5. http://flps.newberry.org/article/5423404_2_1196 "Ebba Sundstrom Becomes Orchestra Leader"
  6. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14090597/chicago_tribune/ "Leads Orchestra"
  7. https://search-proquest-com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/news/docview/164494666/35A404B64C7F4422PQ/46 "Blonde Wields Baton into Tenth Year"
  8. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094287/ebba_sundstrom_1937/ "Ebba Sundstrom Requests Leave from Orchestra"
  9. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094378/ebba_sundstrom_1937/ "Bon Voyage, Ebba!"
  10. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094585/ebba_sundstrom_1941/ "Season's Work Opens for More Women's Clubs"
  11. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094724/ebba_sundstrom_1944/ "Our Town"
  12. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094816/ebba_sunstrom_1951/ "New Dormitory will be Ready at North Park"
  13. Ruth Miller, "Swedish Singers Commemorate the Birth of Jenny Lind" Chicago Daily Tribune (October 12, 1920): 21. via Newspapers.com
  14. https://books.google.com/books?id=6GhFAQAAMAAJ&dq=Ebba+Sundstrom&pg=RA5-PA16 "Ebba Sundstrom"
  15. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094504/daughters_of_sweden_1938/ "The Daughters of Sweden Sponsoring Two Major Events"
  16. Ruth de Young, "Tea, Musical Scheduled for Altrusa Club" Chicago Daily Tribune (March 26, 1933): 76. via Newspapers.com
  17. Edward Moore, "Amateurs Play Vital Part in Civic Culture" Chicago Daily Tribune (May 12, 1935): 63. via Newspapers.com
  18. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094898/victor_nylander_obit/ "Dr. Victor T. Nylander"
  19. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14090630/ebba_sundstrom_1930/ "Woman Orchestra Leader Now Trains Baby's Voice"
  20. http://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/14094948/ebba_sundstrom_obit_1963/ "Mrs. Nylander Dies; Founder of Orchestra"

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