Advertisement “I thought we should be Elly and the Larsons, but that didn’t fly so well,” said Elly McHan, who is joined in the group by Ben Larson, Ben’s cousin Jon Larson and Ben’s wife, Renee Splichal Larson.
The quartet, all seminary students working on masters of divinity degrees at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Waverly, Iowa, formed the band in 2006.
And somehow, after a year and a half of playing together, they settled on Avdeling, the Norwegian word for branch, which makes sense considering the many genres of music the group branches off into.
Many of the original songs they play were written by Ben Larson, son of the Rev. Judd and Bishop April Ulring Larson. Some of the songs are twists on traditional hymns, such as the band’s bluegrass version “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.”
“The common thread would probably be God and praise of God in all different shapes, forms and fashions,” said McHan, whose father, Breck, is pastor at First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, Wis.
The group will give a concert titled “World Music of Faith” from 7 to 9 p.m.
April 26 at Timber Square Restaurant in Onalaska, Wis. They also will play in worship at 5 p.m. that day and 8 and 10:30 a.m. April 27 at First Lutheran.
McHan likes the idea of presenting music in praise and celebration of God in a setting outside the church.
“Why not do it in a relaxed and fun setting?” she said. “Sometimes walking into church can be an intimidating thing.”
