ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/05/2014)(readMedia)-- The Augustana Choir, from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, will tour the Midwest from February 21-March 1. The nine-day, nine-concert tour will take nearly 60 students from as far north as the Twin Cities to as far east as Cincinnati, Ohio. Admission to all concerts is free, and a freewill offering will be accepted.

The Augustana Choir was founded in 1931 and performed its first concert at Chicago's Orchestra Hall. Since then, the ensemble has been one of the most highly regarded collegiate choirs in the nation. Dr. Jon Hurty, Gassman Family Professor of Music, director of choral activities and co-chair of the Department of Music at Augustana, has been director of the ensemble since 1996. Since then he has led the choir on tours throughout the United States, Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, China, Japan and Mexico. Last year the choir had the honor of performing at the Lincoln Academy of Illinois' Convocation and Investiture of Laureates Ceremony, held at Augustana, where the state's highest award for personal achievement was presented.

This year's tour program is a diverse mix of musical genres, ranging from traditional choral music by Brahms and Rachmaninoff, to a piece composed for the soundtrack of an Indian film, to a praise song written in Swahili.

The following students from the area will tour with the ensemble:

Rebecca Knapper of Davenport (52806)

Christine Harb of Davenport (52807)

Benjamin Knapper of Davenport (52806)

Jacob McManus of Reynolds (61279)

Anthony TouVelle of Bettendorf (52722)

Jens Hurty of Moline (61265)

Alex Haifa of Moline (61265)

Elyzia Powers of Silvis (61282)

2014 Tour of the Midwest

February 21, 7 p.m., Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake, Minnesota

February 22, 7:30 p.m., St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa

February 23, 7:30 p.m., Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts, Fairfield, Iowa

February 24, 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Rockford, Illinois

February 25, 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Illinois

February 26, 7:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Manchester, Missouri

February 27, 7 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, Jeffersontown, Kentucky

February 28, 1:30 p.m., American Choral Directors Association Central Division Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio

March 1, 7:30 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, Illinois

March 14, 8 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. Augustana College is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 149 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

THE ESTATE OF GUNNAR B. BJORNSON IS FOR SALE ONLINE UNTIL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8^TH THROUGH CINCINNATI-BASED ESTATE AND PROPERTY SALE SITE - EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE.

February 5, 2014 - Cincinnati, OH:

Everything But The House, a revolutionary online personal property and estate sale service provider, is pleased to present an extraordinary selection of Antiquarian and rare books, coins, antiques and paintings from the collection of Hal and Carolyn Bjornson of Montgomery, Ohio. A multigenerational collection, many of the books are from the estate of Gunnar B. Bjornson, a prominent Minnesota publisher and politician. Born in Iceland in 1872, Gunnar immigrated to the United States at the age of four, and by 1895 he was the publisher and editor of the Minnesota Mascot newspaper. He served as president of the Minnesota Editorial Association and was a member of the State Legislature in 1913. He also served as State Chairman of the Republican Party. Gunnar's son, Hjalmar, continued in the family line of business as an editor of the Mascot and the Minneapolis Tribune. Grandson Hal Bjornson has served as curator of the book collection to the present day. This collection features works published in English, Icelandic and French, dating from 1596 to present day, with over 100 lots predating 1899. Several exciting segments of this collection include many early political writings and titles by Daniel Webster.

Carolyn Bjornson, an accomplished painter in both oil and acrylic, has studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy, with Greg Storer at the Powder Factory Studio and with Lois Griffel of the Cape Cod School of Art. This sale also features many of her paintings.

A live preview of the items in this sale is scheduled for Thursday, February 6^th, 2014 from 12:00pm to 7:00pm at 8767 Appleseed Drive, Montgomery, OH 45249. This sale will begin to close Saturday, February 8^th at 8PM.

A unique alternative to the traditional estate sale, "EBTH" transforms the standard online auction into an easy, tech-savvy experience, providing an entirely fresh approach for both buyers and sellers.  EBTH has created an online path to daily discovery. Discover something at EBTH.com.

Levine, a 25-year old rookie, has gone 10-7-4 while posting a 2.72 goals against average and a .912 save percentage in 21 games with the Peoria Rivermen of the Southern Professional Hockey League this season.

Levine last year enjoyed a standout senior season at Robert Morris University, going 19-12-2 and turning in a 2.55 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and four shutouts in 35 games while helping propel the Colonials to the best record in the history of the school's hockey program.  In 72 career collegiate games, the 6' 3", 180-pound Wheeling, Illinois, native went 30-22-11 with a 2.90 goals against average, a .925 save percentage and five shutouts.

Levine arrived at Robert Morris after spending two seasons in the Ontario junior A ranks with the Pembroke Lumber Kings, Hawkesbury Hawks and Wellington Dukes.