Skip to main content
Archive (2005-2006)

Wasatch concert to delight

By Lindsay Bird

With a plethora of holiday activities and concerts to choose from, the Wasatch Christmas Concert, this Friday at the UVSC McKay Events Center, promises to deliver the Christmas spirit by performing classic carols in an innovative way.

Pop, acoustic and instrumental versions of Christmas favorites will be performed by local artists Peter Breinholt, James Conlee, Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband and Eclipse.

Each performer will bring a varied background and sound to the stage Dec. 9 in the Wasatch Christmas? fifth annual show.

Songwriter Peter Breinholt has played and performed acoustic music for more than a decade. His credits include five albums, a film score, a few Latter-day Saint Pearl Awards, songwriting awards and concerts with several symphony orchestras.

'If you haven''t heard of Peter Breinholt you''ve been out in the frigid cold,? Salt Lake Magazine wrote. 'He''s the closest thing Utah has to a music phenomenon.'

Also to perform alongside Breinholt will be Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband. Recently, the band?s song ?Dream Big? came in at No. 13 on the Country Music Billboards. Shupe, who is on lead vocals, the fiddle, the mandolin and guitar, has been performing since the age of five. However, Shupe doesn?t hold down all the musical duties by himself. Shupe?s band mates Roger Archibald, Colin Botts, Bart Olsen and Craig Miner, will also contribute to the band?s unique style.

?A couple of our songs include ?Carol of the Bells,? an all mandolin quartet arrangement, which you won?t hear anywhere else,? Miner said. ?And ?Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer? in island music style.?

In a more tradition style, James Conlee, a renowned singer will also perform. Conlee has toured with the Broadway musical ?Miss Saigon? and has performed as a soloist with the Utah Symphony, which has expanded his ever-growing resume.

? will sing, ?Oh Holy Night,? and it?ll just blow your socks off,? Miner said. ?This whole concert is his idea, his brainchild and I think James is an undiscovered treasure in this state.?

Lastly will be the six members of the vocal group, Eclipse, who met while performing in a public relations group at Utah State University.

In Sept. 2001, Eclipse was asked by Kenny Ortega the Olympic Ceremonies Director, to perform at the Opening Ceremonies for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. They were also featured in a spot at the Closing Ceremonies and in several shows at the Medals Plaza, opening for acts such as Brooks & Dunn, Nelly Furtado and Train.

In their fifth year performing together at Wasatch Christmas, all of the artists in the concert have become good friends and hope to continue the tradition for as long as possible, Conlee said.

?We have a blast. We are all friends,? Conlee said. ?We like to make music and play together and perform. I think the audience can tell we are having a great time. I love every solo act and it?s great at the end when we all sing ?Silent Night.??

The Wasatch Christmas will be Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the UVSC McKay Events Center. Tickets are available for $8 and can be purchased online at www.smithtix.com or by calling 1800-888-tixx.