Beverly Dawn Wykoff Olson

1929 -

Beverly Olson, a pianist and organist, has been active as a church musician and accompanist for many years. Throughout her career, she has served as organist in several SDA churches, including Pioneer Memorial Church at Andrews University and Loma Linda University Church, as well as at Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist, and Christian Science churches

Beverly was born and raised in Minnesota. She started lessons on a pump organ at age six with her grandmother, Serena Engen, and continued her music study at Maplewood Academy in Minnesota, where she studied piano under Adrian Lauritzen and Olivia Harder.

After three years at MWA, she transferred to Emmanuel Missionary College Academy, now Andrews Academy, for her senior year to study organ with Verne Kelsey and have access to a pipe organ. She also was able to take some college classes while completing her academy work.

Following graduation from EMCA in 1947, Beverly enrolled at EMC, now Andrews University, where she continued music study and took nursing. She transferred to La Sierra College, now La Sierra University, and completed a music degree in 1953. She would subsequently become an RN and, after her husband, Lennart, became a teacher at AU in 1969, she completed an M.Mus. in organ at AU in 1976.

ds/2007

Source: Interview, 2007.