The West Jordan Symphony is a great way to take your family and friends to engage in the symphony’s talents. The symphony provides a great opportunity for players to develop their musical talents, create a venue for all to participate, educate and perform for the community.

West Jordan Symphony and Mountain West Chorale are proud to announce the 30th annual community sing-along performance of Handel’s Messiah. This is a beautiful performance where the audience is invited to sing along with the symphony
and choir.

The mission statement of the symphony, “believes that music and the arts appeal to our human nature, and makes us civilized people. Music soothes the mind and soul, and helps us to be calm and enjoy the beauty of sound around us.” 

The West Jordan Symphony began in 1984 under the direction of Dr. Marden Pond. Then in 1993, West Jordan City sponsored the first annual Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along performance at Christmas time. For over 10 years now, the Mountain West Chorale has joined with the West Jordan Symphony; they sing and play concerts together. In 2003 it was decided to make the symphony a full-time performing organization, playing concerts in the fall
and springtime.

The symphony performs thrilling, sometimes Halloween-themed music in the fall, followed by holiday favorites in December as part of the annual West Jordan City Holiday Concert and Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along. In spring, the symphony welcomes instrumental soloists and small ensembles from the community to audition and perform in the Solo & Ensemble Showcase. To close each season, the symphony performs their Masterworks Concert, featuring compositions from the great classical composers, such as Hayden, Dvorak, Beethoven and many others. The music genres they play are classical, pops, movie soundtracks, patriotic and more. Their repertoire includes music from 1812 Overture, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty waltzes by Tchaikovsky, and many more. 

Dr. Pond was the director that founded the symphony. Other directors include Don Findlay, Jenna Baumgard, Dana Bentley, Larry White, Shane Mickelsen, Denisse Vallecillos, and Robert Bott. The current artistic director is Brenden McCauley with Trevor McFarland as the interim music director. 

Dillon Workman has been with the West Jordan Symphony for one year, and he’s on the board of the directors as the Director of Communications and Marketing. Workman played for another symphony for several years before joining the West Jordan Symphony. He took a little time off, then decided he needed a sense of community. After two years off, and spending much time researching various local groups, he found the West Jordan Symphony. “The fun thing about the West Jordan Symphony is that you can join without an audition. We have a high skill level without auditions and anyone can
come play.” 

Workman has been playing violin for 22 years. He started playing violin when he was 8 years old, after attempting every other instrument he could get his hands on. He took lessons and played in middle school and high school orchestras. Workman was shy as a child, and music helped him find a way to escape and find confidence in himself. “Music heals and music is medicine, and I feel that the Messiah performance brings healing to the community.” Workman said. 

There are many members who have been with the symphony for 30 years or more, and some have been there for 10 or 15 years. “They are so committed to making sure we have successful performances and holding rehearsals together. Through changes with directors, the long-dedicated members of the symphony are dedicated to making sure things are kept running smoothly. Seeing how close knit the community is around the symphony, and within the symphony, is inspiring to me,” Workman said. 

Diana Larsen plays flute and piccolo for the West Jordan Symphony. Larsen loves to sing, doing her first solo performance at 3 years old. She went on to learn piano when she was 8, then learned the violin. In junior high she learned the flute and other instruments. Larsen was invited to play flute with the West Jordan Symphony and currently serves as the librarian for the symphony. Although she loves playing the flute with the symphony, singing is her first love, and she occasionally sings a solo in the Messiah. “Music is very calming. I believe music brings people together, creates a spirit of camaraderie, helps boost a person, and helps brain development. Music is real. There is a physical vibration of the music that you feel, it is not just hearing it,” Larsen said. 

The concept that Larsen keeps with the symphony is, “this is a place where people can come that don’t have an opportunity to play otherwise, because they don’t have enough time, maybe their level is down because they haven’t played for 25 years, or maybe they just got out of high school. We welcome all ages and skill levels to play together.” Larsen has played with the symphony for 18 years and she has seen it grow and continue to be an opportunity for people of all ages and levels. She “encourages everyone to have music in their lives, and parents if children show an interest in something, try to give them the opportunity to learn music, play an instrument, sing etc., and give them support. Music helps with physical and mental health, plus cognitive development. Music is very important and we want to make sure it stays in our schools.”

Amanda Mulia has played violin with the West Jordan Symphony for three years. She has always loved music. She started playing the piano when she was 4 years old. She started playing the violin when she was 8 years old. She has always enjoyed playing music, and she played through college. She played with the American West Symphony in Sandy before joining the West Jordan Symphony. She got into music because it tapped into a different part of her brain. “Having a creative outlet is one of those things that makes me feel good. It fulfills me in a way that is unique. I feel like I am very blessed because I have a lot of different fulfillments in my life such as my family, career, friends, but music fulfills that part of my brain that nothing else can fulfill,” Mulia said. Mulia feels like music is taking care of yourself, if you play music just a little bit, it helps with taking care of your health. “The West Jordan Symphony is a great symphony to play in because everybody wants to be there, nobody is being competitive and trying to show off. They want to be there and play music because they love it.” 

Eric J Bowden has been with the West Jordan Symphony for 11 years, he started in 2011. He was invited by an existing member of the symphony to help fill out the cello section for the Halloween Concert. “I enjoy playing together with my friends, and I appreciate the diversity of music West Jordan Symphony covers,” Bowden said. One of the most enjoyable pieces of music that Bowden enjoyed performing was The Hebrides Overture, under the direction of Shane Mickelsen. “One of the most amazing pieces we’ve performed in the group and it’s stuck with me for years. The West Jordan Symphony is a testament to the desire of its members, and the community at large, to play and perform together.”

Larry White was the director of West Jordan Symphony from 1986-2015. Performing Handel’s Messiah has a lot of meaning to White. “Besides being such a masterful musical composition, the joy and inspiration from the work and in involving the audience in a sing-along is a very uplifting experience together.” One of the joyful highlights of White’s musical life was having the opportunity of directing the West Jordan Symphony. “I am so appreciative of the many friends I made, which I still cherish for their support, and their dedication to improving their musicianship. I loved the beautiful music we were able to perform, and the experiences we had together,” White said. 

Martin Calderwood has been a member of the West Jordan Symphony since 1986. He was principal clarinet for 25 years. He still plays the clarinet, and he plays the saxophone when needed as well as some side instruments such as alarm clock, kazoo and side whistle. In 1986 was the first Messiah the West Jordan Symphony played and Calderwood performed with them. Calderwood has a 60 year career of playing music. He started playing in fourth grade and he learned the clarinet. He played with the Post Office band and the marching band in high school. The reason Calderwood decided to play music is because his grandfather and his grandfather’s family used to tour around and entertain men at the work camps in between WWI and WWII. Calderwood’s dad was 5 years old and he played at the work camps too. Calderwood has played the marimba with six sticks, which is an accomplishment. One of his competitors was Ron Ross (Fireman Frank). By the time he was out of high school he was playing the flute, oboe and saxophone. “I have a great passion for music, it is the love of my life,” Calderwood said. 

West Jordan Symphony’s annual Messiah performance has long been a cherished tradition, drawing music lovers from all over the community. It continues to attract new fans. “I feel like I’ve become so cultured since I’ve started listening to the symphony and its type of music. It’s so exciting to watch the players feel the music they perform,” Ann G. said, a fan of the West Jordan Symphony. 

West Jordan Symphony and Mountain West Chorale will perform Handel’s Messiah Monday Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at West Jordan High School. Admission is free, but ticket reservations are required to attend. You can follow West Jordan Symphony on Facebook to find more information. Donations are greatly appreciated and can be made to the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan via Venmo @CASWJ. If you would like to participate with the symphony as a musician or volunteer, visit westjordansymphony.org. λ