ONWARD SENIORS: Sagsveen’s journey of growth at Minot State

MINOT, N.D. - When Nathan Sagsveen first came to Minot State from Bismarck, he knew he wanted to be part of a music program with a strong reputation. What he did not know was how much the experience would shape him as both a musician and a future educator.

For Sagsveen, the decision to attend Minot State University came down to the people.

"The amazing faculty at MSU was one of the biggest reasons I chose to come to MSU," he said. "The faculty is top-notch, and they love to help students succeed in whatever musical avenue they choose."

That support quickly became one of the defining parts of his college experience. While he originally expected college to simply be about completing his degree and moving on to a career, he found himself becoming deeply involved in the music department community through leadership opportunities, performances, and student organizations.

"I thought that my college story would have been 'get in, get out,' but I could never have imagined how the music department would turn my story into something completely different," Sagsveen said.

As a senior, Sagsveen says one of the most surprising things about the department was how many opportunities students had to lead. Through organizations both on and off campus, he gained experiences that extended far beyond the classroom and helped prepare him for a future in music education.

"The sheer number of organizations give MSU a 'big campus' feel while remaining a close, tight-knit community," he said.

Throughout his time at Minot State, Sagsveen earned scholarships, including the Bert Skakoon and Mary Lou Soukup awards. Rather than viewing the scholarships only as financial assistance, he saw them as encouragement from people who believed in his future.

"The scholarships I have been awarded during my time at MSU have helped serve as a reminder to myself that there are people who believe in me and believe I can do great things," he said. "They have truly pushed me to become the best educator and musician I can be."

His willingness to step outside his comfort zone became a recurring theme throughout his years at MSU. One of the clearest examples came when he performed the role of the Sergeant in "La Bohème" during his first-ever opera production.

"Stepping into the world of opera was definitely a new challenge for me," he said. "Being in the opera was a great opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new, which has been a common theme during my college years."

Although the character's personality was much different than his own, Sagsveen embraced the challenge and even found humor in the experience.

"Playing the role of the Sergeant was definitely a different personality than what I like to normally be," he said, "but it did give me some opportunities to practice my 'teacher look.'"

Another major milestone came when he performed as a bass soloist in Handel's "Messiah." Having only participated in children's choir before college, the opportunity represented how far he had come as a vocalist.

"My only previous singing experience before college was participating in children's choir in elementary school," he said. "The fact that I was able to come back to it and work toward a soloist opportunity felt like a true 'full circle' moment."

Sagsveen credits much of that growth to the opportunities created by the faculty at MSU, who encouraged students to explore areas they may have never considered before.

As both a string player and vocalist, he says his instrumental background has shaped the way he approaches singing. Because he plays a string instrument, he visualizes pitch in a unique way while learning vocal music.

"In a way, I am playing my bass in my mind while I am singing," he explained.

Outside of performance, Sagsveen made a lasting impact through leadership. As president of the student chapter of NAfME, he focused on helping fellow music education students feel prepared for their future classrooms. He organized opportunities for students to connect with local educators, including Q&A sessions and workshops with experienced teachers.

"My main goal was to collaborate more with local teachers and do my best to help my peers and myself be as prepared as possible for a career in teaching," he said.

Sagsveen also served on the board of the Minot Symphony Orchestra, where he learned about the work that happens behind the scenes in arts organizations. Being involved in discussions and decision-making gave him valuable experience in leadership and collaboration.

"My favorite part of being on the MSO board was attending the board meetings and being able to have a voice in some of the decisions that were made," he said.

Many of the leadership skills Sagsveen carries with him today were first developed through becoming an Eagle Scout. Looking back, he says the organizational and communication skills he learned through scouting now directly connect to teaching and conducting.

"Leading an ensemble requires some special leadership traits that include humility, communication, and problem-solving," he said.

One experience that especially strengthened those skills was the Virginia Geesaman Chamber Music Internship. He performed in a group made up of violin, bass, saxophone, and percussion, an unusual combination that challenged the ensemble to find ways to blend their very different sounds together.

"Sometimes we would all have very different ideas on how we wanted to approach a passage of music," he said. "So, we would communicate openly as a group and try to find a solution that worked for each member."

After graduation, Sagsveen plans to teach orchestra in North Dakota. More than anything, he hopes his future students understand that music is about more than simply playing the right notes.

"I hope that my future students will learn that music is not just the notes on the page," he said. "All music tells a story."