ABERDEEN, S.D. – Elsa Swanson will hold a senior recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, in Northern State University’s Krikac Auditorium.

Swanson, the daughter of Paul and Caroline Swanson, grew up in Chaska, Minn., graduating from Chanhassen High School in 2014.

Swanson, a music education major, is a soprano. She will perform "Piangero, la sorte mia" by G.F. Handel; “Le Colibri,” “La Cigale” and “Le Tempes des Lilas” by Ernest Chausson; “Nacht und Träume" and "Gretchen am Spinnrade" by Franz Schubert; and "The Road to Avrillé," "Sweet Sounds, Oh Beautiful Music," "I Drank at Every Vine" and "The Spring and The Fall" by Sven Lekberg. She will be accompanied by Dr. William Wieland. NSU alums Molly Royals, clarinet, and Brady Vandevort, trombone, will also be playing pieces on the recital.

Swanson has studied under Drs. Darci Bultema, Marcela Faflak and Grant Manhart during her time at NSU. She will graduate from Northern in May. She plans to attend graduate school to study opera/classical voice and teach vocal music in Minnesota or South Dakota.

“The music faculty as a whole and the opportunity to study with Dr. Bultema were a huge part of the reason I came to NSU. The beautiful campus and the affordability didn't hurt either,” mentioned Swanson about her choice to come to Northern.

Swanson has made campus headlines in the past year as the winner of the 2017 NSU Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony Concerto-Aria competition and as a district winner of the 54th annual North Dakota-Manitoba District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, this past October.

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $45 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.