On Thursday, Feb. 28, conductor of the St. Olaf Choir Anton Armstrong ’78 gave a talk answering the question “150 Years: How Far Have We Come?” and touched on themes of servitude, community, and equality.
Armstrong graduated from St. Olaf in 1978 and returned in 1990 to conduct the St. Olaf Choir as the college’s first Black conductor. 2025 marks his 35 years in the position, making him the choir’s longest-serving conductor.
One of the threads through Armstrong’s talk was his emphasis on serving those who are often marginalized. Over the course of his 35 years at St. Olaf, Armstrong and his colleagues in the music department have sought to “embrace diverse musical traditions instead of those from the Western musical canon.” Additionally, the department has often worked with those in the community on projects, such as the Manitou choir partnering with Ruth House, a safe and supportive facility for women and children in domestic crises, by supplying them with music. Additionally, during a J-term class this year, St. Olaf students collaborated with Northfield elementary students to create a musical production.
Armstrong’s talk did not just focus on music, however, he also discussed the ways in which diversity has grown on campus over the years.
“We have increased the BIPOC representation now, on both the president’s leadership team, and on the dean’s council. Finally, there is a voice, and some of our voices are heard in that space, and that makes a big difference,” Armstrong said.
When Armstrong was a student in the mid-1970s, there were only three Black faculty members.
Armstrong also mentioned the Cultural Union for Black Expression (C.U.B.E.) and the ways he benefited from the organization during his time as a student. “The C.U.B.E. for us wasn’t just a name — it was a place. We’d go there, have our dances, play bid whist [a card game], we just had lots of fun there. That’s where the gospel choir started.”
In his talk, Armstrong also brought up the installation of the Power and Race (PAR) Ole Core component.
“Students gain knowledge of how race and ethnicity can contribute to inequality in contemporary US society,” Armstrong said, emphasizing its importance in the current political climate.
Toward the end of the talk, Armstrong discussed the values he believes have set St. Olaf apart and made it a place where everyone can thrive.
“My friends, we continue to face obstacles in our community as we seek to become a place where all can belong,” Armstrong said. “Part of it is the residue of discrimination that has been part of our history… but I keep returning to the belief that we are called to be pastoral servant leaders in our learning and our teaching, our work, and our leadership.”
Throughout his talk, Armstrong repeatedly tied his profession to a personal call to serve.
“Musicians are so often called upon to provide comfort, compassion, and healing through our music, yet we often must be the prophetic voice leading the cries for care of our neighbor, care of our planet, and demanding justice for all,” he said.
In an interview with The Olaf Messenger following the talk, Dora Naughton Osier ’27 and Eliza Mitzel ’27 said that their main takeaways were Armstrong’s wisdom and experience.
“He provided a retrospective view of students and faculty,” Osier said. “He did a good job saying how far we have come and what movement still needs to be created.”
Close to the end of the conversation, Armstrong posed a question to the audience.
“How can you be in service to others?” he asked. “Our call, our vocaré, is to become servant leaders using our talents and our gifts as a means of nurturing and nourishing whole people, and breaking down the walls from within and outside that often enslave us or others.”
As he wrapped up, Armstrong touched on his own legacy and the challenge of service he has set for himself throughout his life.
“I would hope that people would see me as someone who was trying to bridge community. How do you build community? How do you use music to serve others? I hope people will see me as somebody who helped others.”
