Local prodigy performs concert at Paradise Center

The Paradise Center hosted a free recital by homegrown pianist Moses Swedberg.

He is a 2005 graduate of Plains High School who also attended kindergarten through eighth grade at the Paradise School. 

Swedberg, who now resides in Colorado Springs, is touring the area to raise money to attend a program at the Landes Akademie Bader-Wuttemberg monastery in Germany. It is the largest institution for musical education in Germany. Swedberg began playing at the age of four, teaching himself classical pieces by the age of 8.

In his performance at the Paradise Center, pieces were from master composers such as, Domenico Scarlatti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Frederic Chopin. Swedberg’s mastery of the music and his concentration while playing was mesmerizing. His hands and fingers seemed to glide over the ivory keys.

During his freshman year in Plains, Swedberg was a quest artist at the Missoula Mendelssohn Club’s 57th annual performance. Don Carey, the conductor at that time for the Mendelssohn Club, called Swedberg a prodigy. 

"I knew there was some young person in Plains gaining a reputation in state and beyond," Carey said. "I thought, well it's pretty unique to have a talent like that come from Plains, Montana."

Before the recital started, Swedberg was given a tour of the old school by Karen Thorson, secretary for the Paradise Center, bringing back memories of his time there. Thorson had Swedberg sign his name on the basement’s alumni wall.

    Moses Swedberg signs the Paradise School alumni wall. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)