Photo Courtesty of Jo-Michael Scheibe and Arthella Williams
Select students from Carbon High School’s choral program participated in the UMEA All-State Choir in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle on Saturday. The choir, made up from the top high school choir members from around the state, offers students a chance to work with other talented musicians and perform in a historic venue, as well as work under the direction of a talented guest conductor.
The selected students from CHS were Lexi Monson, Tatum Atwood, Emilee Behunin, Vanessa Snow, Jaci Bera, Kayla Vasquez, Conner Holyoak, Ralph Winn, Paul Bryner, Gabe VanDyke, Harrison Togerson and Andrew Richens.
“It was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Monson expressed.
The students had the chance to work under the direction of Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe and perform six numbers total. “It was eye-opening for my students to work with Dr. Scheibe because of his teaching methods and rehearsal techniques,” CHS choir teacher Arthella Williams said.
The music was first distributed to the selected students 3-4 weeks before the actual performance date. Students expressed the challenge it was to learn the music in such a short period of time. “They were responsible to learn the notes on their own, but we had morning rehearsals twice a week to bring all the parts together and learn technique,” explained Williams.
After their own practices, the entire choir was able to meet at Taylorsville High School on Oct. 8 and 9 and the tabernacle itself on Saturday for a combined total of more than 10 practice hours spread out over a three-day period.
Among the pieces performed by the choir was “A Dream of a Blessed Spirit” by Daniel J. Hall, a composer raised in Price and who attended the then College of Eastern Utah according to his biography. “It was powerful,” Holyoak expressed in regards to the performance as a whole.
“It was hard work that was paid off,” said Behunin.
