From engineering to indie rock, the future is bright for Minnetonka senior Jesse Thorson

Far From Home, the title of his band’s debut single, is also what Jesse Thorson may experience when he graduates from Minnetonka High School this spring.

He has plenty of options for college.  Thorson’s academic achievements have earned him recognition as a National AP Scholar and a National Merit semifinalist.  

Thorson credits time management for his school success.  “You have to be willing to make choices when you’re balancing schoolwork with gigs, work, and other activities,” said the MHS senior. 

At college, Thorson plans to major in engineering.  “I’d like to study applied mathematics within a university’s engineering school, while pursuing music in a performance program,” he said.  “I’m interested in environmental studies and how to apply mathematics and engineering to current problems.”

Thorson hopes to use the Spanish skills he learned at MHS in his future career.  “I would love to study engineering in Latin America,” he said. 

Thorson has a passion for numbers.  One of his favorite classes at MHS is IB Further Mathematics, which analyzes advanced math topics.  “We also discuss ideas outside of the math realm, debating concepts in psychology and economics,” Thorson explained.  “Mr. Van Dyke is great at encouraging any kind of curious thinking.”

“Jesse excels at communicating mathematics through writing,” said Nathan Van Dyck. “He is enthusiastic and inquisitive.  His deep curiosity often leads him to go beyond the required curriculum to explore areas of interest.” 

“Jesse seeks out challenges and has a research-oriented mentality,” added Van Dyke.  “He wants not only to learn what is currently knowable, but to discover new knowledge.”

Thorson is co-captain of the MHS Math Team.  Last year, he was one of eight students to represent MHS at the Math League State Tournament.

He is also a captain of the school’s Quiz Bowl Team.  In Quiz Bowl, students are challenged on high school curriculum topics, current events, and pop culture. 

Thorson shares his passion for learning with other students that he tutors in a variety of subjects.  He also volunteers for Backpack Tutoring, which pairs high school students with elementary students in inner-city Minneapolis schools.  Thorson’s older sister encouraged him to join the organization. 

“It’s a blast to work with my friends and help younger students better their reading and writing skills,” he said.

Another of Thorson’s passions is music.

Thorson and four friends started the indie rock band The Swedish Revival in 2011.  All of the band members are MHS students or alumni. Thorson plays drums and piano. 

“I love music because it is multi-dimensional and creative,” said Thorson.  “There are many artistic decisions to be made.”

Thorson also enjoys jazz, joining the MHS jazz ensemble as a freshman.  He appreciates the friendships he has formed with students at MHS and other schools.    

“It’s pretty neat how so many of the Twin Cities’ student musicians know and play with each other, especially in the jazz scene, “ he said.  Thorson has played at venues around the Twin Cities including the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Cities 97 stage at the State Fair. 

Thorson helps other young people share their music through Coffeehouse, MHS’s student-musician showcase on Friday nights.  Coffeehouse leaders audition the bands and plan the shows which are held in the school’s Black Box Theater.

With high school coming to an end in a few months, how does he feel about graduation?

“I’m looking forward to being in college and living independently,” Thorson said.  “But I’m going to miss being with my family every day.”  He is the son of Pete and Leah Thorson and he has an older sister, Marissa.

When he moves to college, Thorson will miss his mother’s “fabulous” pancakes as well as his favorite breakfast joint, Excelsior Grill (formerly Hilltop Family Restaurant). 

He looks forward to returning for holidays like Thanksgiving when he’ll make lefse, a Scandinavian flatbread, with his grandmother.  “My family takes our Norwegian heritage seriously,” he noted.  Even the family poodle has a Norwegian name: Ole.  (They also have a black lab named Annie.)

Next fall, Thorson will be on a college campus, perhaps Far From Home, as The Swedish Revival sings. 

When asked about the song’s meaning, Thorson laughed.  “This is so often debated between the band members,” he said.  “I guess it’s about being tethered to a dream, an idea from the past, and looking for home and times of simplicity.”

Written by Lisa Buck