Long Overdue Tribute to Kristyne Olson
Kristyne Olson: Where does one begin to sing the praises of one who has done so much so well for so long? Perhaps at the inscriptions on her March 2013 Hall of Fame induction trophy: “For Excellence in Performance, for Outstanding Work in Internal Publicity and for Production Support.” Those were well-earned praises by then, and she has done so much more since that time eleven/twelve years ago (depending on when you are reading this.)
Kris was the Internet Coordinator/Webmaster and Usher Coordinator for the Club when I moved here in 2021 and still is. Unbeknownst to me, she had just the prior year completed the conversion of the Music Club website from GoDaddy to the current ClubExpress, going live in June 2020. She worked with two ClubExpress developers to design the current website structure and to create 14 custom webpages.
She basically tailored the standard modules to meet the Club’s needs and to include information from the previous website. She says she had five Club members act as reviewers on the project. Since 2020 she has added webpages, documents and tutorials; and has redesigned and modified website content. She has also trained other members to create emails, upload photos and graphics, and to be coordinators for events, such as the Grand Singers sign-up and Open Mic.
Kris served as the email coordinator for most of the years from 2009 – 2020, when the Club was on the GoDaddy platform. She maintained a database of member email addresses and sent out emails to the membership.
Kris took on website maintenance the summer of 2016 and served as the Internet Coordinator Director until May 2023, when that director position was eliminated as a Music Club Board position. Kris agreed to take over as Usher Coordinator in 2019 “for a year.” Well, as these things often go, she is still the Usher Coordinator.
Kris was born and raised in the Milwaukee area. She married and lived primarily there until moving to the Grand in 2004. It was her husband Don’s health issues that led them to seek a warmer climate. They visited what was then called Sun City Grand in October 2003. Kris recalls that Don fell in love with the golf courses, the landscape and, surely, the warmer climate. They bought a home on the spot and moved here in June 2004.
Kris was able to join the Music Club and the Grand Singers in January 2006, thanks to a change in her outside work schedule. She retired at the end of 2009 and immediately began to devote her time and energy to helping the Club. Just four years later, in early 2013, she had earned induction into the Music Club Hall of Fame!
That inscription on the trophy was both a recognition of accomplishments and a portent of things to come. Since 2013, in addition to her participation in the Grand Singers Chorus and Chorale, Kris has performed almost every year in the Classical Concerts, the Popera Concerts, the November Celebrations of Music, and the Music Showcases. She has performed as a soloist and/or as part of a duet, trio, octet or chorale, often in the same shows.
Kris has sung in church choirs since age 41. With no formal voice training, her voice must be a gift! She has a key board at home that she says she can “plunk away at” just well enough to help learn her music.
In the Publicity area, Kris created graphic designs, posters, EBB (Electronic bulletin boards) and programs for all shows from summer of 2010, until she trained her replacement in late 2016. She was on the Music Club Board during this time.
When it comes to the Production side of the Music Club shows, Kris’ contributions and accomplishments include:
2013 – Stage Manager, January showcase; Co-Producer, Celebration of Music
2014 – Co-Producer/Director May Showcase
2016 – Producer, Celebration of Music (“COM”)
2018 – Producer/Director, Classical Concert & Art Exhibit
2021 – Producer, COM ( Covid delayed from 2019 to 2021)
2024 – Co-Producer/Director Popera Concert
2025 – Co-Producer/Director Popera Concert (work has started)
If the Club ever develops a Lifetime Achievement Award, surely Kristyne Olson will be on the short list for consideration!
This Grand Times magazine cover for the August 2012 issue was created by Kris Olson using some of the graphics she had created for Music Club shows.
Pictures from the 2017 Celebration of Music "Irving's Songbook". Kris sang "Play For Me a Simple Melody" with Don Bollard and Marv Myhre.