Music Director:
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BRUCE OLSON came to know Jesus Christ as his personal savior when he was a young boy, at a Bible camp called “Camp JIM” (Jesus Is Mine) in Pillager, MN. Since then, God has blessed him with a wonderful family, a satisfying career, and incredible ministry opportunities. His life Bible verse is Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This verse serves as a reminder that he represents Jesus while on this earth and needs to become less, in order for Him to become more.
Bruce retired in June 2025 as Director of Bands at Blaine High School after 39 years of service teaching. He has directed bands at Anoka High School, Burnsville High School and several middle schools in CA. He directed concert bands, jazz bands, and marching bands, and has taught private lessons throughout his teaching career. His past education has included a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College, Moorhead MN and a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from California State University, Northridge CA. Previously, he performed in the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra in CA, and in “Dickens Brass” at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. He performed with the Lake Wobegon Band and various churches around the Twin Cities. Over the years, he has been the orchestra director at three different churches in MN and CA and has served on various worship teams in the churches he has attended. For ten years and eleven tours, he performed and directed with the largest Christian music ministry in the world, called “Continental Singers and Orchestra”. They performed 8 concerts per week for 3 months in churches throughout the US and 25 different countries, including the Soviet Union, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, and throughout Europe. His final tour allowed him to direct their premier ensemble, called the “Continental Orchestra and Singers” which was a 40-piece full orchestra with eight highly trained vocalists.
He has continued to perform as a trumpet player and is currently the principal trumpet in the Northern Symphony Orchestra based in Anoka, MN. He has a passion for both music and travel. He has traveled to and performed in 30+ countries. Since retiring, he is working as a “tour manager” with several travel companies. These tours provide him the opportunity to continue to facilitate travel for high school music groups to exciting destinations. He also teaches the Brass Methods course for music students at University of Northwestern in St. Paul, as an adjunct faculty member.
Bruce lives in Ramsey, MN with his wife Beth, who is a vocalist and choral educator, along with Gracie, their 11-pound puppy who thinks she is an attack dog. They also have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law who live nearby. As a family, they enjoy traveling, camping, and boating in their free time.
Bruce retired in June 2025 as Director of Bands at Blaine High School after 39 years of service teaching. He has directed bands at Anoka High School, Burnsville High School and several middle schools in CA. He directed concert bands, jazz bands, and marching bands, and has taught private lessons throughout his teaching career. His past education has included a Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College, Moorhead MN and a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from California State University, Northridge CA. Previously, he performed in the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra in CA, and in “Dickens Brass” at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. He performed with the Lake Wobegon Band and various churches around the Twin Cities. Over the years, he has been the orchestra director at three different churches in MN and CA and has served on various worship teams in the churches he has attended. For ten years and eleven tours, he performed and directed with the largest Christian music ministry in the world, called “Continental Singers and Orchestra”. They performed 8 concerts per week for 3 months in churches throughout the US and 25 different countries, including the Soviet Union, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, and throughout Europe. His final tour allowed him to direct their premier ensemble, called the “Continental Orchestra and Singers” which was a 40-piece full orchestra with eight highly trained vocalists.
He has continued to perform as a trumpet player and is currently the principal trumpet in the Northern Symphony Orchestra based in Anoka, MN. He has a passion for both music and travel. He has traveled to and performed in 30+ countries. Since retiring, he is working as a “tour manager” with several travel companies. These tours provide him the opportunity to continue to facilitate travel for high school music groups to exciting destinations. He also teaches the Brass Methods course for music students at University of Northwestern in St. Paul, as an adjunct faculty member.
Bruce lives in Ramsey, MN with his wife Beth, who is a vocalist and choral educator, along with Gracie, their 11-pound puppy who thinks she is an attack dog. They also have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law who live nearby. As a family, they enjoy traveling, camping, and boating in their free time.
