Concert Choir invited to sing with SL Symphony

West Jordan High School’s concert choir has a reputation for greatness. That reputation, and hard work, has landed them the coveted invitation to sing with the Salt Lake Symphony again.

“This is big,” madrigal president Spencer Weight said. “It’s a huge honor to be invited back a second time.”

The Holiday Concert, as it’s called, is one of the highlights of the season for symphony members, as well as audience members. This year, the concert choir will be singing a combination of traditional songs as well as something called a song cycle.

“It’s a piece of music that’s made up of different songs that create a story,” student teacher Emily Leishman said. “It’s beautiful and exciting to listen to.”

The new orchestral song cycle also features popular folk group Red Rock Rondo. The music is inspired by the book, “A Secret Gift,” which tells the story of Christmas in 1933 during the depression in Canton, Ohio.

Leishman, along with choral director Kelly DeHann, has been working with the 150 members of the concert choir for months to perfect the music.

“It really is cool to sing with the symphony,” concert choir president Carly Robertson said. “This is one of the things I have looked forward to since I first heard the choir sing.”

Last year was the first time the choir was invited to sing with the symphony. It was received so well, the choir was asked to return this year.

“We throw a lot of music at them,” Leishman said. “They have to work hard to stay on top of it. But they are incredible kids.”

The Holiday Concert is on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m., in the Libby Gardner Concert Hall at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at the door for $10 or by calling 801-531-7501. Ticket holders are invited to attend the pre-concert discussion with Red Rock Rondo in the concert hall at 6 p.m.