Talen David Andersen was born on April 28, 1997, in Auburn, California to his mother Heidi and father Ed. He is also the middle child of 2 sisters: Sidnee and Jaycee. Talen grew up in the Grass Valley area and currently resides in Lake of the Pines. He attended Bear River High School, where he participated in Men's Chorus, BR Voices, Starlite Express (show choir), Jazz Unlimited (vocal jazz), drama, leadership, site council, football, and track. After graduating in 2016, Talen went to American River College in Sacramento to begin his study of music. While there, he worked under Art Lapierre, learning vocal jazz and basic classical vocal performance. Talen also had the opportunity to pole vault for the ARC track team under Morey Roscow. In the fall of 2017, he moved away from ARC for a fresh start with happier faces at Sierra College, where he is currently a part of the advanced vocal jazz ensemble, The Sierra College Jazz Singers. Talen still pole vaults independently, under his esteemed coach, Kent Rhodes.Talen has received multiple recognitions and awards throughout his life. In music, he won gold status for the solo division of the California Capital Show Choir And Vocal Jazz Festival in 2012. That summer, he was a Top 40 Finalist in FOX40's Northern California Idol singing competition. In 2013, he was awarded "Men's Chorus Co-Musician of the Year" by Alissa Aune at BRHS. The next year, he was awarded "Starlite Express Singer of the Year" by Anne Vaaler at BRHS. He won the same award in 2015, this year awarded by David Ahrens.2015 saw Talen's first theater recognition when he was nominated for an "Elly Award" by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance for his leading role in Little Shop of Horrors. He also saw success in vocal jazz, as Jazz Unlimited received top honors at Santa Cruz Jazz Festival, as well as recognition as a soloist. In the closing moments of 2015, he won 1st place in the InConcert Sierra Youth Vocal Competition. Talen also received soloist recognition at Folsom Jazz Festival to open up 2016. Closing out that school year, he was awarded the esteemed "Starlite Express Entertainer of the Year" by David Ahrens. In track, Talen is a 3-time Pioneer Valley League finalist in the pole vault (3rd in 2014-2015, champion in 2016). In addition, he is also a 3-time finalist at the Divisional Championships (6th in D4 in 2014 3rd in D5 2015-2016), and a 3-time competitor at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet (2014-2016). In his first season of collegiate vaulting for ARC, he placed 5th in the Big 8 Conference and competed at the CCCAA NorCal Championship Meet.
