music ensembles

A collaborative album between the BYU Chamber Orchestra and Broadway superstar Lea Salonga, “The Story of My Life: Lea Salonga Live from Manila,” recently received the 2020 BroadwayWorld Album Award for Best New EP/Solo Release. For a university orchestra to win an award like this is “unheard of,” said BYU professor Kory Katseanes, who conducted the performance. It was recorded with a live audience for the album at the end of the orchestra’s three-week tour of the Philippines in 2017. BroadwayWorld is the predominant social media organization of Broadway. Salonga and the BYU Chamber Orchestra beat out illustrious competition for the Best Solo Release award, with runners-up including Ben Platt of “Dear Evan Hansen,” Leslie Odom Jr. of “Hamilton” and star Kristin Chenoweth. “This isn’t a college award,” Katseanes noted. “It’s an award for professionally produced albums on Broadway. It’s unbelievable — but not undeserved — that BYU won.” Read the full article on the University Communications website.

Crockett is the current director of the BYU a capella group Vocal Point and was recently featured in BYU Magazine’s “A Thing of Beauty”

BYU vocal grads Jonah Hoskins and Dylan Glenn spotlighted as finalists in prestigious national vocal competition

Teuscher — from Vancouver, Washington — will graduate with a BM in commercial music on April 24, 2020

Centennial Middle School band director Peter Werner reached out to his former professor Don Peterson after the cancellation of the State Junior High Band Festival

BYU student Jonah Hoskins sang his way into $20,000 and a winner of the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions this weekend, one of the most prestigious opera competitions for young adults. Held at the legendary Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, Hoskins was one of five performers to win the prestigious award. This year’s finalists were chosen from more than 1,000 singers across North America. He sang “Ah! Mes amis” followed by “Si ritrovarla”with accompaniment from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. “Winning this competition totally changes everything for me in this career,” Hoskins said. “It’s a huge opportunity and gives you amazing exposure to all the big opera houses in the country.” Hoskins, a senior majoring in vocal performance, has studied with BYU vocal performance professor Robert Brandt. Read the full story by Aaron Sorenson at news.byu.edu.

A member of BYU’s Men's Chorus shares his experiences preparing for a dynamic performance This year’s BYU Spectacular! lived up to its name with energetic performances by campus ensembles and guest artists Ben Rector and Hilary Weeks — the product of hard work behind the scenes during an expedited rehearsal process. Brian Merrill — a member of BYU’s Men's Chorus — shared his experiences preparing for the event. “Something a lot of people don’t know about Spectacular! is how last-minute a lot of the preparations are,” Merrill said. “We started learning our songs a week before the performance and sang with Ben Rector a day or so before we performed together. It’s amazing that all of the coordination for Spectacular! can come together so fast.” Due to the collaborative efforts and diligence from each BYU performing group — Men’s Chorus, Young Ambassadors, Ballroom Dance Company, International Folk Dance Ensemble, Vocal Point, BYU Cougarettes and the Dunk Team — BYU Spectacular! showcased a refined performance that could have easily been rehearsed for months. “I love all of the collaboration between the performing groups,” said Merrill. “It’s really cool that we have this community of performers and we can come together at events like this. It makes it better than just one or the other performing.” This year’s Spectacular! performance was also an emotional time for BYU’s Men Chorus as conductor Rosalind Hall announced her final year as director of the choir. “I wasn’t going to do Men’s Chorus until I found out that it was going to be her last year, so I rearranged my whole class schedule,” Merrill said. “It was really special that we sang a Welsh folk song medley because she’s from Wales. The fact that we got to do something native to her is pretty meaningful for most of us.”

Hit-making Nashville-based singer-songwriter Ben Rector will be the featured talent for BYU Spectacular! 2019, along with prolific LDS-Christian crossover artist Hilary Weeks. The headliners will also be joined by Vocal Point, Men’s Chorus, Young Ambassadors, Ballroom Dance Company, Cougarettes, International Folk Dance Ensemble and the BYU Dunk Team as part of BYU Homecoming 2019. BYU Spectacular! offers two performances: Thursday, October 17, and Friday, October 18, 2019 at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the general public go on sale July 15th at BYUtickets.com, with advance ticket sales for BYU alumni and students and BYU ArtsPass holders the week prior. Read more at news.byu.edu

BYU student jazz group Synthesis traveled to the Caribbean to learn from native-Caribbean jazz legends and bless others through musical performances and service in the local communities The BYU jazz band Synthesis is known throughout the world for their performances that combine the best of swing, blues, jazz, Latin and fusion to create something truly spectacular. This summer, the group left Provo and headed to the Caribbean for the unique musical and service opportunities that awaited them in Florida, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. “This tour in the Caribbean helped me to see that people are people, and they love their culture and music,” said Beth Campbell, a vocalist in Synthesis. “It was amazing to see the kind of music and dancing that they enjoyed. I wish we experienced more of that in the United States!” In addition to sharing their musical talent with audience members, they were able to give service and interact with locals. During their time in the Dominican Republic, Synthesis members stopped at La Victoria National Penitentiary in Santo Domingo to render service. Six students from the group were chosen to perform various songs from their tour program to 300 inmates. After their performance, members of Synthesis passed out hygiene kits to the inmates who were touched by this gesture of goodwill and generosity. Read the full story at music.byu.edu.

Forty years ago, a group of Brigham Young University student performers traveled to China and put on a show that made history. This summer, the University is celebrating that anniversary with a return tour that highlights the relationship BYU and China have shared since 1979. Following the aftermath of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, BYU’s initial tour made the Young Ambassadors and Living Legends among the first Western performing arts groups to enter the country. The tour was the idea of then-BYU President Dallin H. Oaks, who had met with President Spencer W. Kimball of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978. President Kimball spoke highly of China’s high standards and family values and upon returning from the meeting, President Oaks asked BYU officials to begin making plans for a performing arts group to go to China, despite no established U.S.-Chinese diplomatic relations at that time. But the diplomatic relations did happen in early 1979 and the show fell into place. Newly-launched China Central Television asked to broadcast BYU’s live performance and, even after the group had left the country, the channel continued to rebroadcast the performance. In the past 39 years, BYU performing groups have returned to China 28 more times. Read the full story at news.byu.edu.

The all-female a cappella group released a music video of their new arrangement of “You’ll Be in My Heart” to pay tribute to maternal love.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performed with Chick Corea at BYU

Ariel Bybee leaves an inspiring legacy to loved ones and strangers alike

Last weekend, BYU Vocal Point’s newest music video “The Greatest Showman A Cappella Mashup,” received over 1 million views on the group’s YouTube channel. The video brought together aerial artists, dancers, singers and cinematographers to feature four songs from the movie—“The Greatest Show,” “Come Alive,” “Rewrite the Stars” and “This Is Me.” The video’s views are not the only indicator of success. It received positive feedback across the board, including from one of the film’s main stars, Hugh Jackman, who called the video an “amazing effort” on Twitter. However, the video’s greatest success may actually lie in the behind-the-scenes work that went into creating the video. McKay Crockett, BYU Vocal Point’s artistic director and music producer, said viewers have no idea just how much work and sacrifice went into creating the video from simply watching the final product. From overcoming illness to creating a circus tent to film in, nothing about the making of the video was easy. Step one was creating a collaborative environment for students from various disciplines and areas, including The School of Music, The Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Performing Arts Management, Contemporary Dance Theatre and the BYU Cougarettes. Students not only worked with each other, but also had the opportunity to work with professionals, including filmmakers, BYU Broadcasting staff and circus performers from Aeris Aerial Arts. The next step was filming the video. The four-and-a-half minute video was shot within 12 hours during a single day. The cast and crew were faced with the task of filming three perfect, continuous takes — the longest being over two minutes long—and then editing these together in post-production. Jeff Parkin, director of the video and BYU film professor, said filming under those circumstances “was a high-wire act with a lot of intensity and stress, but created a special energy on screen. The ability to pull off such shots successfully says a great deal about the professional abilities of our BYU students.” According to Crockett, Vocal Point member Jason Bromley (BA ‘20) had one of the most difficult parts in the video. Bromley trained for weeks with former Cirque Du Soleil performer Darla Davis to learn aerial choreography for “Rewrite the Stars.” Bromley stated, “This was by far the most difficult part of the video because it was unlike anything I’ve ever done. It took weeks for my body to acclimate to that kind of strain and I endured some pretty gnarly rope burns. However, it was an amazing experience and one I doubt many other college students get the opportunity to enjoy.” In addition to learning aerial choreography, Bromley had to sing at double the normal tempo while filming “Rewrite the Stars.” This allowed the post-production team to slow down the aerial work later during editing while still matching Bromley’s lips to the normal tempo of the song. Bromley stated perhaps the most amazing part about this minute-long scene is that it was filmed in one continuous take. Difficult filming circumstances were not the only barrier students had to overcome. Vocal Point member Logan Shelton (BA ‘19) was one of many cast members to get sick leading up to filming. “I wasn’t sure if I had the energy to embody the message of the video,” Shelton said. “The whole project ended up being a miracle. Everything just fell right into place. I hope people feel empowered to be their best selves from watching our adaptation.” Crockett said despite various complications, the crew and cast were able to come together to create an unforgettable experiential learning project. “It was really meaningful to see all the energy on set and all the sacrifice that went into making the video,” Crockett said. “The final video is a real testament to how great BYU is.” This BYU Records production and its success was made possible with the help of various faculty and staff across campus, including Ben Fales (executive producer), Jared Cardon (producer), Jodi Maxfield (BYU Cougarettes director) and Jenny Tingey (choreographer).

BYU’s all-female a capella group Noteworthy is set to release their newest music video on Feb. 14 on the group’s YouTube channel. The video will feature a cover of Michael Bublé’s song “Feeling Good.”Noteworthy director Keith Evans said, “the music video’s release on Valentine’s is a perfect fit.” The lyrics of the song focus on enjoying the little things and choosing to start afresh with a positive outlook on life. Evans said, “Not only are the lyrics of the song empowering, but also the story behind the creation of the video is as well. Our adaptation of 'Feeling Good' is meant to embrace strong, powerful femininity. To do this, Noteworthy members took the lead on this project from concept to direction, capturing the group's unique grace and confidence.” Evans hopes that if anyone is feeling down this Valentine’s Day, Noteworthy’s new music video will be an instant way to “feel good.”

As a major snowstorm descended on New York, opera star Renee Fleming boarded one of the last planes out and squeezed between two passengers to claim her economy class seat. Fleming almost always flies first class, so sacrificing comfort to beat the storm was an unusual move, but she was determined to keep a commitment in Utah. Fleming had agreed to perform as part of BYU’s BRAVO! series. In fact, renowned performers from all over the globe consistently write a stop at BYU’s Harris Fine Arts Center into their schedules. The series holds enough weight in the entertainment industry to catch agents’ attention and bring in some pretty big names, BRAVO! producer Jeffrey Martin said. But it wasn’t always this way. Read More

BYU presents the newest a cappella group on campus, Noteworthy, in concert Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m., in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $10-12 and can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422- 2981 or online at byuarts.com. Noteworthy, though recently added to BYU’s Performing Arts Management portfolio, comes with a ten year history and an amazing resume. Noteworthy’s nine female singers deliver a power-packed concert that combines vocal percussion, humor and a tight harmony. The group’s varied repertoire includes rock, pop, country, jazz, R&B, spiritual and other musical styles. 'There's nothing like Noteworthy anywhere else at BYU—or anywhere else—period. The chance to work with such talented, committed ladies to make such exciting, inspiring music is one I cherish,” said Keith Evans, director of Noteworthy and former Vocal Point member. “These days, young women can so easily find female role models who don’t inspire and uplift. That is what makes it a privilege to direct an ensemble of women who are honest, loyal and virtuous, as well as bright, talented and fun.' The performers take songs and rearrange them to deliver a new rendition with just their mouths. They mimic complex instrumentation, hold a perfect pitch, and give a beautiful harmony. Noteworthy is full of class and charm. All nine members are carefully selected through competitive auditions and they are experts at displaying musical ability, creativity and stage experience—resulting in original, skillful and spirited performances. Noteworthy has appeared on NBC’s hit television show The Sing-Off and was crowned International Championship of Collegiate A cappella champions in 2007. In October 2015, their music video “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” went viral two weeks after its release and currently has more than 17 million views. Performance Date:Saturday, Nov. 19 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $10-12

The BYU School of Music presents La Bohème, an opera in four acts, on Oct. 15 and Oct. 18-22 at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Dress rehearsal performances take place Oct. 15 and 18, and main performances Oct. 19-22. La Bohème, directed by Dr. Lawrence Vincent, tells the story of a poet, painter, musician and philosopher–a circle of Bohemian friends strong enough to survive anything. One of the most beloved operas of all time will transport the audience back to Paris in the early 1800s, where they will share in romance, friendship and death. 'The music is exquisite, the story entertaining and moving,' said Vincent. 'Musically and vocally it is challenging but not beyond the abilities for talented singers at Brigham Young University.' The opera lyrics are sung in Italian with English supertitles. Music for the opera, composed by Giacomo Puccini, is provided by BYU Philharmonic with Kory Katseanes as the conductor. “An opportunity to hear and watch Puccini's La Bohème is one of those ‘bucket list’ items,” Katseanes said. “It's the world's most popular opera for all the right reasons. Full of overwhelming beauty and emotion, this is simply something not to be missed.' La Bohème is Vincent's last opera production after a 20-year history of directing the opera program at BYU. Dates: Oct 15, Oct 18-22 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $10 Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com