Oregon High School Senior Profiles, Oregon, Wisconsin

For OHS senior Statia Swenson, music has always been a family affair. Participating in OMS winter madrigal dinner is one example. OHS senior Statia Swenson explains, “ My sister, Kaylee sang in it and my mother, Jill helped make the costumes so I volunteered there, too. I really wanted to be a Lady and dress up in a fancy dress, so I joined choir to get a part and have been loving singing ever since.”

Swenson reports another benefit of participating in choir has been the self confidence it has instilled in her. “I learned to really open up in the choir spotlight,” states Swenson. “I played in band and orchestra and found that with singing, it’s more of you out there and not so much about the instrument.”

Swenson also enjoys the sense of fun singing has offered her. She reminisces about family get togethers singing around a campfire and a jazz CD her mother always played in the car on driving trips. “I know all the lyrics to every song on that CD” Swenson states with a smile. Jazz continues to be one of her favorite types of music to sing, along with gospel and Latin music.

Through choir, Swenson enjoyed the opportunity to see the musical "Wicked" in Chicago. She performed in the OHS musical “The Wizard of Oz” her freshman year and has been the stage manager for the musicals, "0liver" and "Grease".

Swenson was selected to participate in the Badger Conference Choir in 2008. She leads the Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools and participates in Madison’s Ducks Unlimited. Swenson is undecided about her future plans but reports they may include attending MATC in the fall to study photography.

Class of 2009
Statia Swenson
For OHS senior Statia Swenson, music has always been a family affair. Participating in OMS winter madrigal dinner is one example. OHS senior Statia Swenson explains, “ My sister, Kaylee sang in it and my mother, Jill helped make the costumes so I volunteered there, too. I really wanted to be a Lady and dress up in a fancy dress, so I joined choir to get a part and have been loving singing ever since.” Swenson reports another benefit of participating in choir has been the self confidence it has instilled in her. “I learned to really open up in the choir spotlight,” states Swenson. “I played in band and orchestra and found that with singing, it’s more of you out there and not so much about the instrument.” Swenson also enjoys the sense of fun singing has offered her. She reminisces about family get togethers singing around a campfire and a jazz CD her mother always played in the car on driving trips. “I know all the lyrics to every song on that CD” Swenson states with a smile. Jazz continues to be one of her favorite types of music to sing, along with gospel and Latin music. Through choir, Swenson enjoyed the opportunity to see the musical "Wicked" in Chicago. She performed in the OHS musical “The Wizard of Oz” her freshman year and has been the stage manager for the musicals, "0liver" and "Grease". Swenson was selected to participate in the Badger Conference Choir in 2008. She leads the Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools and participates in Madison’s Ducks Unlimited. Swenson is undecided about her future plans but reports they may include attending MATC in the fall to study photography.	Nina Axelsson Jake Behling Ariana Bonsett-Veal Nicole Cunningham Monica Dahl Toni Hale Molly Hayman Alli Holznecht Breanna Huston Kaleb Karstetter Tayler O'Donnell Jeff Oemichen Alyssa Ottum Cerina Partridge Zach Prior Rachel Smith Statia Swenson Brooke Vander Wegen

Submitted by Peggy Hayman Oregon Choral Boosters