Berit and Per Brevig celebrate 50 years

Per and Berit Brevig smile aboard the New York yacht as they set sail on a Hudson River cruise in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. Photo: Donald Mehus

A special wedding anniversary presents the opportunity to honor a couple who has not only been successful in marriage, but also in their careers and service to the Norwegian-American community

By Donald V. Mehus
Norwegian American Weekly

The distinguished Norwegian-American couple, Berit and Per Brevig, both 
recipients of the prestigious Medal of St. Olav, recently celebrated their 50th wedding 
anniversary in grand gala style.  Some sixty guests—family and friends from Norway and 
America —joined the Brevigs for a festive, evening-long excursion on the Hudson River, 
with the glittering lights of New York forming the backdrop.
On a balmy autumn night with a full moon shining, the party visited and skaaled, dined 
and danced as the yacht sailed by the soaring skyscrapers of Lower Manhattan, passed the 
majestic Statue of Liberty, proceeded to the century-old  Brooklyn Bridge.

An accomplished couple
Per was awarded the Medal of St. Olaf some twenty years ago and Berit just recently 
in 2008, each for their own distinctive contributions on behalf of the renown of Norway and of 
matters Norwegian in the United States. Some 20 years ago the two together were founders of the 
Edvard Grieg Society, Inc. of New York.

During the past twenty years Per has been conducting many concerts and some 20 operatic performances in New York, as well as in various parts of America and Europe, 
including his native home of Norway.  One particularly memorable performance of his was 
leading Mozart’s scintillating comic masterpiece, “Cosi fan tutte.”

While Per was engaged in his multi-faceted career, Berit was similarly active as well in
 arranging with him the myriad aspects of Grieg Society evenings.  They make a great team!
 Simultanously, for some 25 years Berit served with distinction as a staff member of 
the Norwegian Consulate General, located in mid-Manhattan, and  in the last 20 years 
served as music consultant of this Norwegian office.

With such a vast program of Norwegian cultural events presented over the years under 
the auspices of Berit and Per Brevig, it is no wonder that each of these two luminaries were so royally honored by being awarded the prestigious Medal of St. Olav. Our hats go off to both of them.

This article was originally published in the Nov. 13 issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe and for further information, call us toll-free at (800) 305-0217.