The Southern Utah Heritage Choir opens its 32nd season with a crowd-pleasing salute to beloved music from Broadway and Hollywood. Under the masterful direction of Dr. Ken Peterson, the 180-voice community ensemble will bring From Screen to Stage to life at the St. George Tabernacle, a venue prized for its warm acoustics and historic charm in the heart of downtown.
From Screen to Stage is offered as a gift to the community with two performances, Friday, October 10 at 7 PM and Saturday, October 11 at 2 PM. Seating is open to all, and audiences can expect a program that moves with the sweep of the silver screen and the snap of the marquee, pairing stirring scores with unforgettable showstoppers performed by one of Southern Utah’s signature choirs.
Adding star wattage to the season opener is guest artist Rachel Robertson Cox, an accomplished soprano known for an expressive tone and commanding stage presence. Cox received a Master of Music in Voice from BYU with a minor in Choral Conducting, then completed post-graduate opera studies at the AIMS Institute in Austria. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of St. George Chamber Singers, conductor of the St. George Children’s Choir, runs a private vocal studio, and is an active soloist and actress.
Cox has performed internationally in both classical and musical theater productions, frequently sharing the stage with her talented tenor husband, Jamison (BJ) Cox, DDS. Local audiences know her for memorable concert turns across Southern Utah, and her appearance with the Heritage Choir is poised to be a season highlight.
The choir will be accompanied by Jennifer Redfern on piano and Karen Kennedy on organ, a pairing that promises both sparkle and grandeur as the program moves between stage and cinema favorites. From tender ballads to triumphant finales, the afternoon and evening are designed for music lovers of every generation.
“This concert celebrates the magic of storytelling through music – from Broadway’s biggest hits to our memorable favorites from the silver screen,” notes Choir President Geri Rhodes. “We are particularly excited to have Rachel as our guest performer. Her beautiful soprano voice and her own experience in musical theater adds unforgettable emotion and depth to these familiar and much-loved melodies.”
The set list reads like a love letter to iconic melodies: “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess, “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables, “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, and more. Heard inside the Tabernacle’s soaring space, these works promise to resonate long after the final chord.
Now in its 32nd year, the Southern Utah Heritage Choir continues a tradition of community connection through song. From Screen to Stage leans into the joy of shared memory, inviting audiences to recall the first time a favorite theme swelled in a theater, or the thrill of hearing a Broadway anthem live. It is a program built to welcome longtime fans and first-time visitors alike.
Families, friends, and neighbors are encouraged to arrive a little early, take in the Tabernacle’s historic details, and settle into open seating before the music begins. These free performances are designed to delight listeners of any age and, as the choir likes to do, send everyone home humming.
Admission is free. Seating is open. For details about the program and the Southern Utah Heritage Choir’s season, learn more on the official website at HeritageChoir.org.
