Milton Olsson holds degrees in Music Theory and Composition from Wayne State University in Detroit and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder (CU) in the Literature and Performance of Choral Music. At Wayne State he studied with Dr. Harry Langsford, Prof. Malcolm Johns, and Dr. Ruth Wylie. At CU, Milt studied with Dr. Lynn Whitten, Dr. Walter Collins, and Prof. Warner Imig—a founding member of ACDA.
His first professional position as a choral director was as assistant to Don Large and the Make Way for Youth Chorus of radio station WJR in Detroit. He directed the Lawrence Tech Men’s Glee Club, and was on the faculty of Detroit Institute of Technology. He also served as music director for the City of Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation, and was one of the Division Directors of Metropolitan Arts Complex, a Model Cities cultural arts project.
After completing his degree at CU, Dr. Olsson came to Michigan Technological University in 1976 to fill the position of director of choral and orchestral activities. His work with the choral ensembles and the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra quickly brought him to prominence on the local arts scene and in the State of Michigan. Under his leadership, the Michigan Tech Concert Choir did eight international concert tours, including China, Brazil, Russia, Central Europe, Chile and Argentina. For thirteen years he was chair of the MTU Department of Fine Arts (now Visual and Performing Arts) since its formation in 1993, bringing the arts into the mainstream of campus life.
Milt joined ACDA during his doctoral studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He joined the ACDA-MI Board in the late 70s, serving in many capacities through the years. From 1995 to 1997, he served as president of the American Choral Directors Association of Michi¬gan. Since his retirement from Michigan Tech in 2008, he continues to serve on the ACDA-MI Board of Directors and as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Langsford Singers.
Milt is widely respected for his compositions and arrangements. The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra premiered his Konzertstück in May 1999, and in 2000 and in 2008 the KSO and the Concert Choir performed his Mass for Chorus and Orchestra. This season, the KSO will premiere his newest major work for orchestra, Dialogues, and the Michigan Tech Concert Choir will perform “Moments,” an unaccompanied setting of his original text, written to honor the choir’s thirtieth season.
Trudy and Milt Olsson met at as undergrad students at Wayne State University. They are the parents of three sons and have 6 grandchildren. They continue to reside in the Copper Country, where Trudy enjoys kayaking and skiing and Milt lives for warm summer days.
