For Heroes Proved
With Special Guests
The Intermountain Choral Artists
Shawn Smith, conductor
Cory Mendenhall, conductor
7:30 PM | NOV. 11, 2025 | CONCERT HALL | MUSIC BUILDING
Let Freedom Ring
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Intermountain Chamber Singers
RYAN NOWLIN b 1978
. PAUL SIMON b 1941 arr Kirby Shaw
Liberty Fanfare JOHN WILLIAMS b . 1932
America the Beautiful
One Voice
Even When He Is Silent
SAMUEL A . WARD 1848–1903 arr . Carmen Dragon
RUTH MOODY b . 1975 arr Thurston
KIM ANDRÉ ARNESEN b 1980
Hymn to the Fallen JOHN WILLIAMS
Battle Hymn of the Republic WILLIAM STEFFE AND JULIA HOWE ca . 1830–1890; 1819–1910 arr Peter Wilhousky/Tokke
GUEST SPEAKER: JENNIE TAYLOR
Tell My Father
Intermountain Men’s Choir
FRANK WILDHORN b 1958 arr Andrea Ramsey
Armed Forces Medley ARR JAMES KESSLER
God of Our Fathers WARREN/ROBERTS arr . Claude T . Smith
The Stars and Stripes Forever
PHILIP SOUSA
WIND SYMPHONY PERSONNEL FALL 2025
Piccolo
Kalina Rencher
Flute
Rebekah Fife
Madison Franklin*^
Camille Hunsaker
Mickayla Hunter^
Daniel Woodfield
Oboe
Hailey Wilkerson
Marisa Wride*
English Horn
Caroline Seamons
Bassoon
Madi Sarahs
Zach Smith *
E-flat Clarinet
Seth Rugg
Clarinet
Reuben Allan*
Hyehyun Pak
Eliza Palmer
Rachel Pearson
Melissa Wilson
Jordan Yardley
Bass Clarinet
Melissa Coulter
Ben Eubanks
Shawn Smith, director
Contrabass
Clarinet
Amber Christiansen
Alto Saxophone
Jonathan Crane*
Eli Thomas
Tenor Saxophone
Jeff Sass
Baritone
Saxophone
Hamish Reeves
Trumpet
Carter Glass
Ila Goodrich
Casey Harris
Katie Myers
Caden Randolph
Abe Smith*
Horn
Kanani Annandale
Eric Coons
Spencer Landen*
Kirstyn Miller
Chase Tovey
Trombone
Aneisha Booth*
Elisia Hellwig
Daniel Spencer
Bass Trombone
Peter Merrill
Euphonium
Madeline Chadburn*^
Luke Lehmuller
Tuba
Emma Hogge*
Julianna Thomas
Percussion
Sean Caviness
Connor Chase
Eli Gordon
Ben Smith*
Alex Wolfersberger
String Bass
Neal Baird
Piano
Timothy McKay Harp
Annalise Drewes
*Principal
^Graduate Student
CHAMBER ARTISTS
Personnel Roster
2025–2026
Soprano I
Kristy Cook
Kelsey Eastmond*
Jamie Loveridge
Madison Paez*
Amber Toney
Soprano II
Amy Carlin
Melodie Porter
Liz Thibault
Leanne Witney
Alto I
Suzana Garrett*
Triest Graham*
Brittany Rogers
Dorothy Taylor
Heather Wiseman
Alto II
Jessica Andrews
Emily Bean
Chemain Evans
Christine Tanner
Tenor I
John Brooks
Chase Cluff
Kevin Diehl*
Ross Graham*
David Gunn
Tenor II
Cooper Arndt
Matthew Carlin
Jason Metler
Steve Metler
Matthew Paez
Jason Richey
Jason Rivera
Baritone
Scott Christensen
Jared Haines
Brett Massengale
Mark Pinson Bass
James Eastmond
Josh Reidhead
Commodore Rush
David Spackman*
*Section Leader
SYMPHONY CHORUS 2025–2026
Soprano I
Lucy Broughton
Kristy Cook
Kelsey Eastmond*
Rachet Rulet
Jamie Loveridge
Heather Rowley
Amber Toney
Soprano II
Megan Broughton
Jessica Brown
Brooke Browne
Amy Carlin
SanDee Davis
Kelsy FernandezSalazar
Heather Harding
Laura Hawkins
Jayni Kingsford
Jennifer Maner
Kamryn Mantoan
Barbie Massengale
Kaylee Metler
Megan Metler
Chrissy Mugleston
Melodie Porter
Deborah Smith
Liz Thibault
Aubrie VanBlack
Leanne Witney
Alto I
Amanda Bradshaw
Sharon Campbell
Dawn Douglas
Megan Galt
Mary Garlitz
Personnel Roster
Suzana Garrett*
Triest Graham*
Abbey McDonald
Camille Neilson
Janet Olson
Deni Preston
Mitzi Robins
Brittany Rogers
Nancy South
Dorothy Taylor
Melanie von Bose
Heather Wiseman
Christa Woodall
Alto II
Jessica Andrews
Emily Bean
Maren Christensen
Krysti Condie
Cindi Ellis
Chemain Evans
Jenny Hill
Launi Leavitt
Christine Tanner
Jeanette Waite
Renaye Wimmer
Tenor I
John Brooks
Chase Cluff
Kevin Diehl
Ross Graham*
David Gunn
Chandler Whittaker
Tenor II
Cooper Arndt
Clarence Bentley
Matthew Carlin
Ben Gifford
Jordan Juarez
Jason Metler
Steve Metler
Jason Richey
Jason Rivera
Albert Rodriguez
Andre Young
Baritone
Scott Christensen
Eric Ellsworth
Nathan Foutz
David Hardee
Jeff Hill
Garn Loveland
Brett Massengale
Shawn Nissen
Mark Pinson Bass
Devon Anderson
James Eastmond
Jared Haines
Jack Kinney
Kerry Loveless
Josh Reidhead
Commodore Rush
David Spackman*
*Section Leader
Intermountain Choral Artists
Founded in 2023 in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Intermountain Choral Artists has quickly grown into a distinguished ensemble dedicated to community-centered musical excellence . Under the leadership of founder and conductor Dr . Cory Mendenhall, the ensemble upholds a tradition of artistry, discipline, and care for the rich heritage of choral music .
Bringing together talented singers from across the Intermountain West, Intermountain Choral Artists unites individuals through a shared love of great music and a commitment to values that strengthen both art and community . Each performance seeks to uplift audiences, inspire future generations, and celebrate the enduring power of song .
Our Guest Speaker
Jennie Taylor is a Gold Star wife, educator, and founder of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation . After her husband—Utah Army National Guard Major and North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor—was killed in action in 2018, Jennie chose to honor his legacy through faith, service, and gratitude . She has since raised over $1 . 2 million to support veterans, military families, and patriotic education . A former Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Jennie speaks nationwide about faith, freedom, and finding purpose after loss . She is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership and policy at the University of Utah, focusing on military-connected students . Jennie lives in North Ogden with her seven children, striving to honor God and country by strengthening families, communities, and the covenant blessings of liberty that unite us all .
Our Narrator
Dr . Mark Ammons is the assistant director of the BYU School of Music . In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Mark directs the BYU Jazz Ensemble . Throughout his career, he has performed as a professional trombonist, singer, and actor . His trombone credits include performances with the Utah Symphony, Utah Chamber Orchestra, Ballet West Orchestra, Utah Trombone Authority, Orchestra at Temple Square, and Utah Premiere Brass, and as a freelance jazz and recording artist . He has been a featured soloist throughout the United States and Europe . His recording and national/international broadcast experience includes multiple recordings and broadcasts with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and the Utah Trombone Authority, as well as local, regional, and national film scores and commercials .
Mark has performed lead roles in operas, musicals, and plays including The Mikado, Die Fledermaus, The Barber of Seville, Enchanted April, Barefoot in the Park, The Fall of the House of Usher, and many others . He has performed and recorded works by Christian Asplund on texts from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants . He is a founding member of the Schtickmen, a musical comedy trio, and has performed many concerts with them as well as other solo and joint vocal recitals and concerts .
Mark is an active voice actor and has voiced the narrations for numerous concert pieces with large instrumental ensembles as well as chamber and solo works . These have included Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale (L’Histoire du soldat), Philip Parker’s Story Hour, Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, Dan Brown’s Wild Symphony, Chris Stewart’s A Christmas Bell for Anya, and many others . In his “spare time,” he narrates and reads children’s audio stories and books .
About the Conductor
Shawn Smith serves as the director of the Brigham Young University School of Music, as well as professor of conducting and director of bands . Prior to his appointment at BYU, he spent sixteen years as director of bands at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Texas A&M–Corpus Christi .
Smith holds a doctor of musical arts degree in instrumental conducting from Arizona State University, and master of music and bachelor of music education degrees from Louisiana State University and Boise State University, respectively .
In high demand as a band and orchestra conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Smith has been invited to conduct professional and educational ensembles throughout the United States, South America, Central America, and Europe, including concerts with world-renowned trombonist Joseph Alessi, Grammy Award–winning chamber ensemble Eighth Blackbird, Tony-nominated Broadway and television star Derek Klena, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and the United States Air Force Band .
Equally at home with opera and musical theater productions, Smith has conducted pit orchestras for The Marriage of Figaro and a six-week run of Les Misérables . His performances have been heard numerous times on American Public Media’s Performance Today, the most popular classical music radio program in the United States . In 2015 Smith was awarded second place for the American Prize in Conducting— Professional Band Division .
In the area of research, Smith has been published in the Journal of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles and in Alta Musica, and he has presented his research at national and international conferences in the United States, Europe, and South America . Smith has also presented
numerous educational clinics, workshops, and speeches, most notably at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, and at state music conferences throughout the United States .
As a public school teacher, Smith served as director of bands and orchestra at one of the largest high schools in Idaho, where he administered a very successful comprehensive instrumental music program .
An accomplished trumpeter, Smith has performed with the Corpus Christi Symphony (Texas), the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra (Idaho), the Acadiana Symphony (Louisiana), Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band, and the Temptations .
During his tenure as director of bands at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, Smith received the Texas A&M System Teaching Excellence Award twice . Smith holds honorary memberships in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Kappa Kappa Psi . He also holds memberships in the Utah Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles .
Our Guest Conductor
Cory Mendenhall and his wife, Aprel, are the parents of four beautiful and musical children .
Dr . Mendenhall currently serves as the founder and artistic director of Intermountain Choral Artists and Symphony Orchestra and the director of choral ensembles at Springville High School . He formerly served the choral students at Maple Mountain High School and Provo High School . Mendenhall’s unique and informed work with adolescent voices in the choral setting has brought celebrated renown to his high school choirs, known for their beautiful tone, musicianship, and choral artistry .
In addition to his academic and community choral endeavors, Dr . Mendenhall serves as the choral director for the Missionary Training Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo, Utah .
Dr . Mendenhall earned a doctorate of musical arts in choral conducting, with cognate studies in orchestral conducting, from the University of Utah . He earned a master of music in choral conducting from Brigham Young University and a bachelor of music in choral music education from Utah State University, with related studies in organ performance . His esteemed and beloved mentors include Ronald Staheli, Barlow Bradford, Robert Baldwin, Rosalind Hall, Jean Applonie, Will Kesling, Lane Cheney, the late Douglas Bush, and the late James Drake .
Aside from his musical work, Cory enjoys spending time with his wife and children and extended family and friends in Utah’s stunning mountains .
About the BYU Wind Symphony
The finest woodwind, brass, and percussion players at Brigham Young University perform with the Wind Symphony, under the direction of Shawn Smith . The BYU Wind Symphony maintains an active performance schedule with programming that ranges from wind band classics to some of the newest wind repertoire . Participation in commissioning consortiums and hosting composers and guest conductors on campus offers ensemble members wonderful musical experiences .
The BYU Wind Symphony has performed with world-renowned artists including New York Philharmonic principal trombonist Joseph Alessi, Grammy Award–winning chamber ensemble Eighth Blackbird, Tony-nominated Broadway and television star Derek Klena, and the popular vocal trio GENTRI . The ensemble has been honored with invitations to perform at national and division conferences of the College Band Directors National Association, the American Bandmasters Association National Conference, and the international conference of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles .
As BYU’s premier wind band, the ensemble has performed throughout the United States and in over twenty countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, and many European countries . Recent/upcoming concert tours include Australia (May 2018), Texas (May 2019), Spain/Portugal (May 2023), South Korea (July 2024), and Brazil (May 2026) . Their latest album, Latin Dances, was released in 2024 and is available on all streaming services .
