BYU singing groups Vocal Point and Noteworthy performed at the Covey Center for the Arts on Nov. 8 and 9.
They started the show with "Runaway" by OneRepublic, followed by a lineup of songs ranging from pop to gospel genres and culminating in a "High School Musical" medley. Throughout the performance, the singers entertained the audience with beatboxing solos, movie character impersonations and moments of spiritual reflection.
Hyrum Jackson, a Vocal Point member, said that the group performs at the Covey Center twice a year. With this being Jackson's third year with Vocal Point, and he said this Provo location has become a familiar place to perform, and certain fans come every time.
“Provo, especially the Covey Center, is like coming home," Carson Trautman, director of Noteworthy and Vocal Point, said. "There's so many familiar faces in the audience. And so, the songs are classics, they’re songs that people in Provo have been hearing for, quite literally, decades,”
Branae Porter, aunt of Noteworthy member Addi Chandler, watched the show and said her favorite songs were "Amazing Grace "and the "High School Musical" medley.
“It was amazing. I loved the Amazing Grace,” she said.
“Amazing Grace is always just—it has such a beautiful message. And so, I think that is probably my favorite when we get to sing,” Emma King, a member of Noteworthy, said. “Every time you sing it, you just think about how good God is for giving us His mercy.”
Before becoming the director, Trautman was in Vocal Point for three years. He explained that each song that was performed meant something to him personally. Each piece has made him smile, dance or feel God’s love, and their goal is to help spread these feelings to others.
“The mission of Vocal Point is to enlighten the hearts and minds of those within the sound of their voice, and to the filling of their souls with joy. So, it's all about making music that makes people happy,” he said.
This is King’s second year in Noteworthy, and she has been able to go to Asia with the group. She said she was grateful for the opportunity to meet so many people and interact with those that were not familiar with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Jackson has performed in six different countries and eight different states with Vocal Point. In his first year, he met a man who listened to Vocal Point after work to relax and was eventually baptized after learning about the Church.
“We were a part of this legacy that had changed his life for the good,” Jackson said.
As he is starting his first year with the group, Asher Smith said he feels that God brought him to Vocal Point. He said that he is learning about what it means to sacrifice his time to give to other people. He also commented that Trautman has taught them a lot about being selfless and not seeking personal gain.
“It also makes me feel like I have to give more because I just want people to experience so much good,” he said. “So, with giving that, I feel like it's been a huge lesson in what sacrifice is in my life and what I should be willing to give to other people so they can experience something great.”
King also feels she was led to Noteworthy by God and said she has learned much more than just music.
“Going into it, I really was like, 'Oh, I'm just going to become a better musician.' But I feel like I have just learned so many lessons of hard work and being selfless,” she said. “Truly as a musician, the ultimate goal is to forget yourself and serve the people that you're performing for and that is something our director especially is so good at teaching us.”
Being part of Noteworthy has also given King insight into things that go beyond music but are applicable to the industry like marketing, social media and using equipment.
Because their goal is to make the world a better place through music, Trautman said the groups use social media to spread the word. They can be followed on Instagram at @byunoteworthy and @byuvocalpoint.