Photo: Andy Pauquette
Meet Nancy Swanson, FWCC’s Executive Assistant and Financial Manager. Nancy grew up on a farm near Hillsdale, Michigan, and spends one day a week there, caring for my parents’ flower beds and helping my Dad. She earned a BA in Organizational Management from Goshen College. She and her husband, Jon, met in Wheaton, Illinois, when she worked at Wheaton College Graduate School. They’ve been married 34 years and have two married children, Hope and Andrew.
Let’s get to know her!
1- How long have you been with the FWCC?
I came to the FWCC when our daughter, Hope, joined the Lyric Choir in 2002, and I was the Lyric Choir secretary that year. In the fall of 2004, I joined the FWCC staff as Volunteer Coordinator and then Financial Manager. After working with another not-for-profit from 2010-2013, I returned as Executive Assistant and Financial Manager. I’ve been on staff a total of 10 years.
2- What do you like best about working with the FWCC?
I love working with our families, whether it’s helping them figure out payment plans, following up when a singer has missed several rehearsals, making sure they have all the information about a concert or tour, or just being a listening ear for good news or difficulty. We have the best families in the FWCC! And the staff–we have a pretty cool staff, too!
3- What is your favorite FWCC memory?
My favorite memory is probably the relief I felt when our tour group returned from Hawaii in 2005. Their flight had taken off twice, only to return to Honolulu due to problems with the plane. All parents and staff were grateful for a safe trip home.
Also, though it’s not a memory, I love watching singers grow up as they go through the FWCC. Over the years, I’ve seen dozens of singers make the journey from Apprentice through Youth Chorale, and it gives me great joy to watch them mature as people, as well as musicians. They find their voice is many areas of life.
4- How would you describe the culture of FWCC?
We are a very diverse, accepting, and supportive organization–diverse in culture, ethnicity, socio-economic status. The music our singers perform is diverse–sacred, classical, folk-songs, ballads, pop-culture,,and many languages. We accept everyone. We want all of our singers and their families to feel comfortable and supported by all of the staff. Our doors are always open–whether it’s in the office, by email, phone, or outside a rehearsal.
5- In your own words, why should a child consider joining FWCC?
It’s fun, and you learn a lot–about music, the world, and yourself.