Poster Lauren Senden
Lauren Senden, Vocalist, 2018 Minnesota Varsity Featured Artist
courtesy Lauren Senden

Minnesota Varsity: Where Are They Now? - Lauren Senden

Minnesota Varsity 2019: Send in your submissions now

Where Are They Now? spotlights Minnesota Varsity Featured and Showcase Artists and Composers from 2011 to 2018.

Lauren Senden, Vocalist, 2018 Featured Artist

Age: 18

Hometown: Mankato, Minn.

Attending: Mankato East High School, Mankato, Minn.

How has your life changed since you performed in Minnesota Varsity? I am a senior this year at Mankato East High School. I have started trying new things in both my performance and process. I feel like I am growing significantly in terms of becoming an artist. I was a 2018 Young Arts Winner and had the opportunity to go to Los Angeles for their Regional Program. I also participated in the Minnesota State Fair Talent Show and was honored to win first place in the Teen division. I had so much fun and used it as an opportunity to show people that opera can be engaging and tell a story. People at the State Fair were very responsive, and I was proud of having possibly introduced many people to an aria in a creative way (see Lauren's performance below).

Career goals? I plan on pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Theatre. I would like to write and perform my own show on Broadway.

What is your best memory of the Minnesota Varsity experience? I was awarded a Medici TV subscription for my video submission on why Classical music matters, and it has been an invaluable resource. I have learned so much from all that I have been able to watch on this resource. The documentaries inspire me by allowing me to see through the eyes of renowned artists and start to understand how they work. I may never meet them, but I feel like I know them because of the in-depth view the shows give of their lives. I feel like I can not only understand other types of artists better but also appreciate their work more because I have learned about the journey they took in creating their work and getting where they were in their career. I love the ballets because I am a dancer and I believe watching professionals is the best form of education possible. Living in Mankato, I do not get the chance to go to the Twin Cities that often to watch professional productions, so getting to watch them at any time is amazing. I have watched the operas and it has helped me with my performances because I would have a very difficult time seeing all the operas I was working on pieces from, if I had to find locations where they were being performed. I could go on and on about how great a blessing this gift has been and am so thankful for your willingness to provide this resource. I never would have known about it if it were not for Minnesota Varsity, and I want to thank MPR from the bottom of my heart.

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