Arts Student of the Week Fred Zorgdrager

Photo courtesy of Fred Zorgdrager

Fred Zorgdrager

When the curtain comes up on the Niwot High School spring show "Shrek the Musical" in April, senior Fred Zorgdrager will be front and center in the leading role. "It is a really big honor," Zorgdrager said. "I don't plan to do musical theater professionally but if I were to perform on Broadway 'Shrek' would be my dream role. It is super exciting to get the opportunity to do it now."

Based on the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film "Shrek," "Shrek the Musical" is a show with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. In the show, two ogre parents send their seven-year-old son Shrek out of their house and into the world to make his living, and the plot follows the ogre's adventures, along with his friend Donkey, to find the princess Fiona.

Laura Walters, who teaches choir and musical theater at the high school, selected Zorgdrager as Arts Student of the Week, and she has been impressed with his musical development. "Fred has worked really hard in choir throughout all of high school and I've seen so much growth, not only vocally, but in his leadership skills as well. Students look up to him, and he is also very kind and humble," Walters said. "He works above and beyond in preparing for auditions, and blows us away with every performance!"

"Fred is a senior who sings in Evenstar, the top auditioned choir at Niwot," Walters continued. "He also made it into All-State Choir this year."

Zorgdrager says that his vocal progress has been influenced by Mika, a musician who sings in a high tenor voice. "It is a lot of fun to challenge myself to see how I can improve my singing," Zorgdrager said. "I can share different types of music with different people."

Zorgdrager's experience as a music student at NHS has been extremely positive. "It is a strong community," Zorgdrager said, " and I have really enjoyed getting to know everyone." He loves being a part of the choir and performing in musicals and plays. In addition to his contributions to Evenstar, the NHS spring musical, and All-State Choir, Zorgdrager plays with Niwot's A Capella Club 'Unaccompanied Minors.' His most memorable moment, he said, was performing a big solo with the choir and orchestra together.

Tennis, math, the Innovation Center, and computer programming are among his other interests. After graduation, Zorgdrager plans to attend the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. He hopes to earn an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering with a minor in computer science, and a master's degree in nuclear physics.