“I can’t envision my life without music,” says Dr. Douglas Olson, Park High’s new choir teacher. Before he started working at the high school he had many stories of prior occupations and places he had spent his time, including other teaching jobs in Montana and activities in the midwest.
Olson went to high school in Montana and even competed in school activities against Park High. He was a member of the football team and rivaled the school where he now works. Unfortunately, he injured his knee which ended his career in the sport but led him to his current profession: music.
Olson participated in music and other art curriculums like drama during the rest of his school career. During his college years he continued working with music and eventually it became his passion, so to pursue the love of music he easily displayed he became a music teacher. After going to college, he had many other occupations including working at other schools from preschool and up and even leading church choirs in the midwest. “Singers are singers, no matter what age they are,” he said while describing all of the different age groups he has worked with throughout his life.
After all of the other people that Dr Olson taught and affected, he ended up at Park High. Olson also teaches at Sleeping Giant Middle School, right across the street. He said the school has balanced his classes well so he doesn’t ever over-exert himself by playing a role in both buildings. He explained that he loves his profession and is excited to see how the middle schoolers evolve as young musicians.
With the Park High students he displayed how proud he was of them and how hard they’ve worked. He kept saying how he loved seeing students get into music and work hard, which the choir students certainly have done this year,
“We’ve been practicing a lot more with him and I think we’ve gotten better,” says Bree Bushnell, a member of the chamber choir. Olson seemed hopeful for the four upcoming concerts his classes will perform at Park this year. With a special sparkle in his eye he told me, “it’s what I wake up every morning to do”.
