Alumni Voices – Kirstyn Olsen: trading the spotlight for a brighter purpose

Kirstyn Olsen once dreamed of standing on the grandest stages, filling opera halls with music and touching hearts around the world. Performing was everything to her—a way to share joy, passion and art. In performance, she found freedom, a place to express herself and connect to an audience in a meaningful way through music.

“Performing was everything to me—bringing others joy through my voice, my art, my passion,” Olsen said. 

Teaching? That wasn’t even on her radar. 

“It seems almost laughable now, considering my mother was a teacher, and I spent countless hours in her classroom, helping out during school breaks,” Olsen said. “But back then, my heart was set on performing.”

But things began to shift.

“Every performance seemed to fuel the fire—until it didn’t,” said Olsen. “I can’t say exactly when it happened, but something shifted. The joy I once felt began to dim. The stage no longer called to me the way it used to.”

Now a guitar and choir teacher at Matilda Torres High School, Olsen has turned her passion for music into a transformative journey. In her classroom, she found her true calling—not on stage but in helping others find their own voices.

“It’s about seeing the light in my students’ eyes when they accomplish something they didn’t think possible. That joy—theirs, not mine—became my spark,” she said.

In the fall of 2013, Olsen received her B.A. in music performance from Fresno State and got her single subject credential in music from National University in 2016. Continuing her education, she earned a master’s in educational leadership from Southeast Missouri State University in 2021 and is currently working on her administrative credential through the Madera County Education program Bridges to Leadership. 

Olsen began teaching middle school choir in 2014, piloted a kindergarten music program and saw her choirs flourish. When she transitioned to Matilda Torres High School in 2022, she built a guitar program from scratch, growing it from 80 students to over 200, including an advanced guitar ensemble. She is most proud of her groundbreaking choral group that unites special education students with their peers.

“That choral group brings together our moderate and severe special education students, traveling and performing alongside their peers, showing the world what inclusion really looks like,” said Olsen.

Olsen’s journey to teaching was deeply influenced by her time at Fresno State, where she earned her B.A. in Music Performance in 2013 under the mentorship of Dr. Anthony Radford, professor of vocal performance.

“I could tell Kirstyn was a wonderful talent from our very first lesson together. Even at 18 I knew she would make a difference in whatever she decided to do,” said Radford.

Today, she applies those lessons to inspire her students, helping them explore the emotional depth and storytelling potential of their performances.

“What story are we telling? What emotions are we trying to convey? What words and techniques best capture our message? What do we want the audience to feel, and what lasting impression do we hope to leave? These questions, rooted in what I learned as a performer, have shaped how I inspire and mentor the next generation of musicians.”

As Olsen looks to the future, she envisions expanding her impact through educational administration, focusing on equity and inclusion. 

“I’ve traded the spotlight for something even brighter: the joy of helping others find theirs,” Olsen said. 

Olsen said life has taken her in unexpected directions. But through it all, she has found success in her career. When asked what she would say to students making difficult degree choices, she had the following advice.

“Do what feels right for you at this stage in your life as you look ahead to your future. But don’t regret it if you end up following a different path.”

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Chat GPT contributed to this story.