IVA's Winter Memories
Lucia Day is the day of lights, celebrating when a vision of St. Lucia, an Italian saint, appeared on the shores on Sweden.
“The sweet buns are the special treat of the day. It’s also a time of year where many drink glögg, which is sweet mulled wine, and eat pepparkaka (ginger snaps) sometimes with blue cheese spread on them. (Trust me, it’s good.)”
IVA in Atlanta celebrating Luciadagen with Swedish Expats.
This is an interview with singer-songwriter IVA from New York and the new-ish BMS Marketing Director Cecily Ferguson (who is based in Sweden). The interview is part of the artist in residence program.
Swedish Connections
Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucy’s Day or Feast of Saint Lucy).
What does Lucia Day mean in Sweden? Lucia Day is the day of lights, celebrating when a vision of St. Lucia, an Italian saint, appeared on the shores on Sweden. Sweden is in it’s darkest days during this time (in Stockholm, sun up at 9am and down at 3pm) so celebrating light is poignant in December. The oldest daughter in each family dresses as Lucia and brings buns to the family before the sun comes up on Lucia Day, and girls and boys sing in choirs and process in churches, venues, and on the streets with songs specifically written for Lucia Day.
Are there special treats associated with the day? The sweet buns are the special treat of the day. It’s also a time of year where many drink glögg, which is sweet mulled wine, and eat pepparkaka (ginger snaps) sometimes with blue cheese spread on them. (Trust me, it’s good.)
Can you describe the Luciatåg (Lucia train)? Whomever is playing Lucia wears a crown of real candles on her head, while the other girls have wreathes on their heads and carry candles in their hands, and the boys dress as star boys wearing a dunce cap shaped white hat and carrying a star at the end of a pole. All of the participants wear a white robe.
Have you ever participated in a Luciatåg? Oh ja. I did my first Luciatåg at Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, Delaware, when I was a teenager. I learned the songs then and eventually became Lucia when I got to high school, wearing the crown of candles. When I moved to Sweden I was hired to be a Lucia for a couple of events and then again when I returned to the U.S. for the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta. They know how to throw a great Lucia party! Attached is a photo of me with the Swedish expats in Atlanta :) We put together a lovely choir for the event. Lucia is always a beautiful day because the songs and the lights, especially when in a candlelit church or other space, really create a magical feeling.
Do you know of any places in NYC where people can celebrate Lucidagen? In New York the Swedish Church celebrates Lucia Day on Saturday the 10th of December from 3-7pm! I’m glad you asked this cause now I’m gonna go!!!
Connect with IVA on insta
IVA's Sommar Memories
Music has provided so much pure joy for me in my life and I want everyone to be able to experience that if they are game. And they need the exposure to all forms of music, and BMS provides that exposure. I also love the faculty and staff at BMS. It’s a fabulous group of talented, caring musicians.
BMS AIR
““I’m thrilled to be one of the [pioneer] artist to be part of this program. The program bridges the gap between the world of education at the Brooklyn Music School and the world of professional performing artists.””
IVA with a Midsommar Crown and Svensk Clothes
This is an interview with singer-songwriter IVA from New York and the new BMS Marketing Director Cecily Ferguson (who is based in Sweden). The interview is part of the artist in residence program.
Swedish Connections
Can you explain your connection to Sweden? My ancestors came to the New World in 1641 on the Kalmar Nyckel boat from Stockholm. My family traced our ancestry back to these Swedes and became very interested in their life in New Sweden. For this reason I applied for a Fulbright Scholarship after conservatory and traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, where I lived for six years and started my career as a pop and opera singer.
Arriving in Karlstad, Sweden during the summer of 2015 for the Swedish American of the Year ceremony.
How would you describe a Swedish summer? If it’s a good one (my first one wasn’t) it’s absolutely gorgeous for about two months. The weather is in the 70s and it’s light all day! It’s magical to see the about 20 minutes around midnight where the sky dims during June and July - the colors are incredible.
What is Midsommar and what is your favorite midsommar memory? Midsommar is an important holiday in Sweden where the Swedes celebrate the summer solstice - June 21st. It involves eating delicious Swedish food like different types of herring, Vasterbotten pie, and plenty of schnapps, which means drinking songs will be sung. My favorite Midsommar memory is going to to an island in the archipelago with my family and seeing the Swedes wear traditional costumes and dance around the Midsommarstånger, which is like our May pole.
Swedish summer in the archipelago with housemate Adam.
Do you have a favorite Swedish Sommar song? Det kom ett brev - poem by Pär Lagerqvist with music by Gunnar de Frumerie. I had the chance to sing this beautiful song at the Musik vid Siljan festival in Dalarna, Sweden, while staying at the home of the late Swedish composer Hugo Alvén. The song is about the timelessness of a mother’s garden and the feeling her child gets when reading her letter, as it’s infused with all she is experiencing at home and all the child remembers from its childhood. The melody and words are absolutely gorgeous.
Can you compare sommar vibes between Stockholm and NYC? Stockholm is much cooler in temperature and so people can wear their best clothing and makeup. Everyone is Stockholm is usually very happy in the summer and if it’s a nice day they take the entire day off and go outside. I can’t imagine a New Yorker doing this as we have so many sunny days in the summer. Stockholmers live for good weather and make time for it.
BMS Brooklyn Artist in Residence
IVA Voice
What do you think about AIRS programs in general? I’m thrilled to be one of the [pioneer] artist to be part of this program. The program bridges the gap between the world of education at the Brooklyn Music School and the world of professional performing artists. I hope it will give students a chance to see artists at work and understand more what a musical life looks like. I also hope it will bring more awareness of Brooklyn Music School to the community, to New York, and to all of the places where I and other artists perform and work.
As the 2nd artist in residence, what is the most exciting aspect of the BMS AIRS program? So far it has been performing a reading of my first libretto and having the chance to share a new aspect of my writing which is opera. We had a hybrid performance both live and on Zoom and it was thrilling for the performers and the audience members. I was so grateful to have the use of the beautiful theatre and the fabulous technical support.
Can you explain your sommar process, with this question I am assuming it might be different in the fall or winter for example? In the summer I have less students so I am able to focus more on my performing and writing. This summer I finished a record and prepared for its release as well as gave more performances in New York. I also get more rest in the summer with trips to the beach … ahhhhh.
What was the most exciting part of your summer from an AIRS perspective? Laying the groundwork for an AIRS performance in Paris, which we are working towards in April 2023.
What does BMS mean to you? It’s a community of artists where students can have lessons no matter how much they are able to afford. It’s vital to have music education available to as many students as possible as many schools have defunded their music programs. Music has provided so much pure joy for me in my life and I want everyone to be able to experience that if they are game. And they need the exposure to all forms of music, and BMS provides that exposure. I also love the faculty and staff at BMS. It’s a fabulous group of talented, caring musicians.