A conversation with Angi Swan 

Rachel Benton

Every time I attend a choir concert, I love taking a few moments to focus on the pianist — the “unsung hero,” if you will. 

Pianists do so much more than perform their magic on stage. They are often the right hand of the choir conductor, playing notes as needed to help singers with memorization and providing support throughout a performance. Depending on the difficulty of the music, I can imagine that responsibility becoming quite overwhelming. Yet, somehow, they make it look effortless.  

A friend of mine recently introduced me to Masterworks Choral Ensemble’s (MCE) pianist, Angi Swan, whose bright, warm, and peaceful presence on stage feels like the cherry on top of every magnificent concert. 

Swan wears multiple hats in the community. Alongside her work with MCE, she teaches elementary music at Hansen Elementary School in Olympia, serves as Worship Director at First United Methodist Church, and is a freelance accompanist and musician.  

I hope you enjoy getting to know Swan as much as I have! 

The conversation 

Benton: What is your favorite music to play as a pianist, and what is your favorite music to listen to, solely for enjoyment’s sake? 

Swan: “That’s like choosing your favorite kid, but that’s a good question. You know, that’s what I love about playing with Masterworks. We are always playing a variety of music stylings, and I love it all!  

“Gosh, I’m not a jazz fan, but I love to play jazz music. I do love music with beautiful harmonies, but not traditional harmonies. I love tone clusters, and I love a Pops Concert where we can just rock out and have fun!”  

Benton: When we first met, you mentioned that you have been with Masterworks, either as a singer or a pianist since 1998. What are some of the other things you love about Masterworks?  

Swan: “The people! It is a true community, a family, and a place where I can go and just make music and have joy! When you are a music teacher, you do music in a different way as you teach people how to play music. At Masterworks, I can just come, play, and make music for music’s sake, and play a variety of music.”  

Benton: When you play music, even when you are playing someone else’s composition, you are still actively creating as you are bringing music to life. When you are at the piano, I’m curious, do your thoughts disappear? Do they intermingle with the music to bring a form of clarity?  

Swan: “I had a college professor who taught me that when I’m accompanying, I’m not just playing music for someone else, I am actively creating and looking for artistic ways to help the music come to life. He taught me that it really is a dance between the accompanist and the performer. I always think about that when I approach a piece of music.  

“Over the years, I have realized that I’m not ‘just an accompanist,’ but that I am an artist and it gives me free reign to approach music with an artistic mind. It’s really such a privilege.”  

Benton: Thinking about all the different hats you wear in the community, I imagine you get exhausted at times. You can do what you love every day, yet get tired. What keeps you going on the more challenging days?  

Swan: “You just keep going! Ha! (In all seriousness), I maintain boundaries and mindsets that remind me to do the best I can each day, then allow me to go to bed with peace knowing that I did my best and remembering tomorrow is a new day. 

“Sometimes, that can be really difficult because you take on the emotions of the kids, and the energy that is exchanged is something you naturally take on. It can be really exciting, but it can be exhausting. When they are excited about learning a new song or whatever, their curiosity and desire to learn energizes me and keeps me going. I really love what I do. Besides that, I enjoy the outdoors, especially the summer sunshine.”  

Benton: What would you say to someone who wants to be a musician, or who wants to work in music, but feels scared just because of the way this world does not often accommodate a career in music?  

 Swan: “Well, definitely, you have to be realistic, but music education is such a great career to go into because even though the pendulum swings from decade to decade, the arts remain essential to being human, and what it means to be human. Despite budget cuts (and other policies that limit the arts), I don’t think we will ever just throw the arts away because they are so essential to our identity.”

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.