Ebba Sundstrom Nylander

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.[2]

Ebba Sundstrom, from an advertisement in a 1920 publication.[1]

Early life

Ebba Sundstrom was born in Lindsborg, Kansas, a settlement of Swedish-immigrant farmers where her father was a carpenter.[3] 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.[2]

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.[4][5] She also taught violin at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago.[6] In 1929, she took over from Ethel Leginska the director position with the Woman's Symphony Orchestra of Chicago.[7] After seven seasons conducting the orchestra,[8] she took leave in 1937 for "study and travel".[9][10] She did not return to the conductor's post, but by 1941 was teaching at North Park College,[11] and conducting the school's orchestra,[12] until she resigned from North Park in 1951.[13]

Sundstrom often played with and for Swedish-American cultural groups, including the United Swedish Singers of Chicago,[14] The Swedish Old People's Home Society,[15] and the American Daughters of Sweden.[16] She was one of the first members of Altrusa in Chicago, and appeared on Altrusa programs as a presenter.[17] She was president of the Women's Music Club.[18]

Personal life

Ebba Sundstrom married Victor T. Nylander, a dentist who taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1920 to 1937.[19] They had a son, Reinhold Nylander, born in 1930.[20] She was widowed when Victor died in 1962.[19] Ebba Sundstrom Nylander died in 1963, aged 66 years.[21]

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References
  1. "Ebba Sundstrom's Successful Debut" Musical Courier (November 3, 1921): 38.
  2. Ruth de Young, "Ebba Sundstrom: A Musical Figure of Rare Quality" Chicago Sunday Tribune (December 8, 1935): 98. via Newspapers.com
  3. Irene Steyskal, "A Prairie Girl Hitches Wagon to Music Star" Chicago Daily Tribune (July 19, 1936): NW1.
  4. Edward Moore, "Ebba Sundstrom Plays a Recital" Chicago Daily Tribune (October 28, 1921): 19. via Newspapers.com
  5. Elmer Douglass, "Violin Recital, Group of Songs, Delight Elmer" Chicago Daily Tribune (July 27, 1927): 14. via Newspapers.com
  6. "Ebba Sundstrom Becomes Orchestra Leader" Svenska Tribunen-Nyheter (September 25, 1929).
  7. "Leads Orchestra" Chicago Daily Tribune (September 22, 1929): 11. via Newspapers.com
  8. "Blonde Wields Baton into Tenth Year" Los Angeles Times (December 11, 1935): 10.
  9. "Ebba Sundstrom Requests Leave from Orchestra" Chicago Daily Tribune (May 15, 1937): 13. via Newspapers.com
  10. "Bon Voyage, Ebba!" Chicago Sunday Tribune (August 22, 1937): 59. via Newspapers.com
  11. "Season's Work Opens for More Women's Clubs" Chicago Sunday Tribune (October 12, 1941): 131. via Newspapers.com
  12. "Our Town" Chicago Sunday Tribune (April 16, 1944): 118. via Newspapers.com
  13. "New Dormitory will be Ready at North Park" Chicago Sunday Tribune (September 23, 1951): 193. via Newspapers.com
  14. Ruth Miller, "Swedish Singers Commemorate the Birth of Jenny Lind" Chicago Daily Tribune (October 12, 1920): 21. via Newspapers.com
  15. "Ebba Sundstrom" Music News (February 10, 1922): 16.
  16. "The Daughters of Sweden Sponsoring Two Major Events" Chicago Sunday Tribune (June 19, 1938): 55. via Newspapers.com
  17. Ruth de Young, "Tea, Musical Scheduled for Altrusa Club" Chicago Daily Tribune (March 26, 1933): 76. via Newspapers.com
  18. Edward Moore, "Amateurs Play Vital Part in Civic Culture" Chicago Daily Tribune (May 12, 1935): 63. via Newspapers.com
  19. "Dr. Victor T. Nylander" Chicago Daily Tribune (January 12, 1962): 14. via Newspapers.com
  20. "Woman Orchestra Leader Now Trains Baby's Voice" Chicago Daily Tribune (December 16, 1930): 20. via Newspapers.com
  21. "Mrs. Nylander Dies; Founder of Orchestra" Chicago Sunday Tribune (January 6, 1963): 194. via Newspapers.com
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