BRYAN OLESEN

Bryan's path to pursuing his musical dreams involved various odd jobs before receiving an unexpected call to join the rock band Newsboys as their guitarist for an international tour. He later shifted his focus to his own band, VOTA, using their music to connect with and support various causes, including victims of school shootings and fighting against human trafficking. The band took action by recording albums to support an organization's campaign and through their efforts, they helped raise over $180,000 to build border ports in Nepal and save the lives of nearly 700 women. Despite facing a challenging divorce after 24 years of marriage, Bryan embraced it as a turning point in his life. He sees it as an opportunity to make a difference at almost 50 years old with newfound freedom and determination.