Youth choral group discovers Beatles, plans for future Davis Clipper • February 11, 2010
BY JENNIFFER WARDELL Clipper Staff Writer
Local poet offers advice on sharing your heart Continued from p. A15
Courtesy Photo
DAVIS COUNTY — Before coming together to sing their music, many of the kids in the inaugural version of the Young Choral Artists didn’t know that the Beatles were anything more than insects. The group, made up of 65 kids from Davis County and all over the Wasatch Front, will be performing with the Salt Lake Choral Artists, the Beatles cover band Get Back, and T minus 5 at the “Beatlemania!” concert on Feb. 20 at Libby Gardner Concert Hall. Though tickets for the evening performance are already sold out, they are still available for the 2 p.m. matinee. “When we asked the kids ‘Do you know who the Beatles are?’ we got a lot of confused looks and shaking heads,” said Jessica Lee, who directs the group.“By now, though, they know the music and love it.” The choir who will be performing at the concert is a nascent version of the
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DIRECTOR JESSICA LEE leads the children through a recent practice. Young Choral Artists, a youth choir of children ages 7-13 that will be an official part of the Salt Lake Choral Artists (SLCA). “They’ll have the chance to sing with mixed choral groups, which is a rare opportunity for young choirs,” said Lee.“(SLCA conductor) Dr. Brady Allred is excited to program music
that uses children’s voices and treble choruses.” The group, which will be re-formed this summer, has been working to find a balance among its varied members. “Some of the kids can read music, but some are too young to even read words,” said Lee.“The trick has been finding a way to
level the playing field so the older ones feel like they’re learning and the younger ones don’t get left behind.” The Young Choral Artists will be holding official auditions later this year, and will officially start their first season this September. For more information, please visit saltlakechoralartists.org/ youngchoralartists.
A thesaurus, which can be found online at www.merriam-webster.com, may be used to help find alternate words. Also, there’s no need to restrict yourself to writing just one. Think of several things you like or admire about your beloved and write one for each, or choose a handful of your favorite moments with them. Afterward you’re free to choose your favorite, or give the entire collection as a Valentine’s gift. As for presenting the results to your sweetheart, written format is probably the best choice – it leaves something permanent for the person receiving the gift, and the simplicity of their format means that haikus look more elegant written down than they do
recited. The specifics, however, are entirely up to your imagination. Handmade cards are a more personalized touch, though a blank greeting card would work just as well (not one with an inside message, though – you don’t want anything competing with your original words). In the end, though, it’s the feelings themselves – and the fact that you cared enough to share them in such a permanent manner – that end up being the most important. “As both a receiver and as a giver, I’ve learned that our ideas and thoughts are one of the most perfect things we can give someone,” said Montague. “They’re appreciated far more than any other gift, no matter how expensive the gift is.” jwardell@davisclipper.com