By Samantha Shirley
A unique mix of people gathered for the BYU Singers concert Saturday in the HFAC, including current choral students, music enthusiasts and past and present members of the prestigious choir.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the BYU Singers, and Ronald Staheli has worked tirelessly in his position as director for all this time.
For the last three songs of the night, Staheli invited all the alumni of the choir in attendance to join with the current Singers on stage, making a choir of more than 200 voices.
Staheli thanked all the students for their hard work over the years and their dedication to music. He also recognized the directors of the Women?s Chorus, the Men?s Chorus and the Concert Choir.
?This is the real truth of the matter, because when you?ve got Jean Applonie and Rosalind Hall training and working with them, I get the sheer joy of working with people after they?ve trained them so well,? Staheli said.
Even though Staheli has been directing the BYU Singers for 25 years, he said that he has not become tired of working with the members of the choir.
?The beauty of the singers continues to revive me,? he said.
Kenny Wiser, a secondary music education major in the Concert Choir, enjoyed watching the alumni and current members of BYU Singers perform together.
?It was just great to see the legacy that was left behind by Dr. Staheli,? Wiser said. ?I think it was a good way for us, the new generation, to remember how long this tradition has been here.?
The BYU Singers are preparing for a tour to the British Isles in May, where they will perform at the world-renowned Cork International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland.
?It?s a highly prestigious international choral competition,? said Rosalind Hall, the director of Men?s Chorus as well as the Concert Choir. ?It?s a great privilege to be invited?to be in that tier.?
Hall said she enjoyed watching the Singers perform Saturday.
?It really is wonderful to sit back and enjoy and to particularly enjoy the high level of excellence they achieve,? Hall said. ?That is really a pleasure for us and it?s very stimulating and motivating for other choral musicians to be here and inspiring to hear music at this level.?
Annalise Belnap, a junior in vocal performance and a current member of the BYU Singers, said she enjoys being in the choir.
?It strengthens my testimony and it helps me appreciate music more and really connect with it,? Belnap said. ?It helps me understand the influence I can have on the audience, because we have to have strong testimonies so we can convey that and represent Christ.?
samshirley@byu.net