SUU Choirs host Utah high school students in concert
By Ashley H Pollock
SUU Choirs will perform Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Center Theater in a concert titled “True Light: Accessing Stillness.” Under the direction of Dr. Krystal McCoy, students from regional high school choirs including Pineview High School, Jordan High School, Pleasant Grove High School, Corner Canyon High School, and Salt Lake City School for the Performing Arts will also participate in a final piece.
“The theme of the concert is True Light: Accessing Stillness,” said Dr. Krystal McCoy, Director of Choral Activities. “We will present a variety of choral styles. The concert will feature our three choral ensembles: Luminosa (Women’s Choir), Concert Choir, and Opus Chamber Choir. Perhaps one of the most difficult artistic realms for a performer to achieve is to access stillness, both during performance and in life. This semester our choral ensembles grapple with the juxtaposition of blinding energetic light and the innate spacious sense of stillness within that light. Cultivating an inner sense of quiet calm within the hectic, often unyielding daily demands is transferable to all aspects of life. We propose that those moments of balance are the achievement of True Light.”
“I am most excited to perform “Dubula,” a traditional Xhoshan Folk Song arranged by Stephen Hatfield,” said Twila Bennett, a junior music education major from Bullhead City, Arizona. “I have learned about several African, Indian, and even American traditions through learning this music. It is an experience I could never duplicate. I have really opened my mind up to different cultures and ideas through this music, and I hope that we can convey the same inspiration to the rest of the community. While the music is challenging, we can really bring it to life. My personal goal is to bring the community closer by bringing many other traditions and cultures to the forefront, creating a true light in the process.”
“It is the small moments where you find yourself lost in thought, or in a room that is completely silent where you have no distractions, that you can feel the most peace and light,” said Samuel Park, a junior music major with an emphasis in vocal performance from Safford, Arizona. “Once you access stillness, are at peace with the world, and can be completely at ease, it is then that you can experience true light.”
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Southern Utah University faculty, staff, and students are free with a valid ID card. Faculty and staff IDs are allowed one guest. Tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the concert or online at suu.edu/pva.
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