The
Choral Arts Society of Utah was organized in 1987 as a Utah
nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation for the purpose of furthering
the choral art in Utah and abroad. Giving artistic support
and performance opportunities to local choral groups, the Society
primarily promoted and fostered the Jay Welch Chorale until
December of 1996. Sterling S. Poulson, founder of the Society,
became the conductor of the Choral Arts Society of Utah's one-hundred-voice
choir in January, 1997.
The society
has a long history of choral performances, including a performance
with the Utah Symphony Chorus of Haydn's Lord Nelson
Mass in Carnegie Hall in June, 1999. The premiere performance
of Michael McLean's, The Garden, was performed by the Choral
Arts Society of Utah in the spring of 1996. They have since
performed the work a dozen times in Utah, combining with the
Latter Day Sounds
in one performance at the Dee Event Center in Ogden. Two
of Utah's Governors invited the Society to sing at the Gubernatorial
Inauguration. In 1991, the choir sang at the 1998 Olympic
Bid announcement in Salt Lake City.
The choir
began its signature choral/orchestral concert in 1997, taking
on the responsibilities
of the Days of '47 Pops Concert,
which is the kickoff event for Pioneer Days in Utah. Pops
Concert guest artists have included: Douglas Spotted
Eagle, The Goodman Family, Paul Engemann, Gregory Pearson,
Envoy, Senator
Orrin Hatch and Janice Kapp Perry, Michael McLean, Katie Thompson,
Fire on the Mountain, InsideOut, Peter Breinholt, The Salt
Lake Scots, George Dyer, Christianne Klein, and Blue Sage. The
concert is held in Abravanel Hall and maintains the tradition
of being free to the public for over sixty years.
For several
years, the choir has gathered in the Historic Salt Lake Tabernacle
on Temple Square to present the Days of '47
Sunrise Service, hosting several other choral groups including
Sierra
Nevada Master Chorale, Davis Master Chorale, Bear River Choral
Society,
Morgan Community Choir, Legacy Chorale, Box Elder Symphonic
Choir, and BYU 21st Stake Choir. The choir has also
performed for the Temple Square Concert Series, the ZCMI
Christmas Windows
Celebration
and two big band era concerts with the Phoenix Jazz and Swing
Band. The
choir travels to southern Utah almost yearly and has performed
two outdoor concerts at the entrance of Zion National Park.
They have also performed several times with St. George's
Heritage Choir
and other Utah choirs in the St. George Tabernacle and at
Dixie College. The choir also traveled to Nevada to perform
with
the Sierra Nevada Master Chorale in the symphony hall in
Reno.
Since December
of 1997, a tradition for the choir, along with the West Valley
Symphony, has been the Holiday Pops
Concert,
a Salvation
Army Angel Tree benefit, which helps bring Christmas to
less fortunate children and families in Utah. Well known
artists who have performed with the choir for the Christmas
season include David
Barrus, Thurl Bailey, The Crocker Sisters, Octappella and
the Bar J Wranglers. The 1998 concert was televised
and won the Utah Broadcasters Association's "Gold
Award" for
best entertainment program of the year.
The
Choral Arts Society of Utah is a partner in business with
Taylorsville High School, and once a year performs
with the
Concert Choir to
help raise funds for the musical goals of the choral
students. In
1997 the Society also performed a cooperative concert
with the Bountiful High School choirs.
The choir
braved the cold to present four outdoor performances for the
2002 Winter
Olympics during February in Salt
Lake City.
If you would
like to join the choir or would like more information about
the Choral Arts Society of
Utah, call
(801) 363-9708.
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