Education Week attendees gathered from far and wide in the Marriott Center Wednesday and Thursday night to listen to musical performances. The theme was “Celebrating the Music: Live in Concert,” and featured musicians who have built faith-centered music in Latter-day Saint communities.
The emcee for the concerts was McKay Crockett, who works for Refuge Media Group and worked with BYU Education Week to put on the evening events.
“We just were thinking, ‘gosh, what could we do that includes music and includes the energy and fun that everyone's used to when they come to these shows, but also, it's just a little something different, a little spin on it,’” Crockett said. “And what we decided was to just kind of honor the incredible people who have spent so many decades of their lives using their God given talents to worship the Savior.”
The performance began with Cherie Call, who was followed by Kenneth Cope. Michael McLean concluded the concert, and all the musicians came back onstage together for the final number.
Anna Lisa Gardner, from Meridian, Idaho, said that she grew up listening to Kenneth Cope and Michael McLean.
“It's funny, because it brought up those feelings of insecurity when you were a teenager,” Anna Lisa Gardner, said. “And those songs that really touched you and brought you understanding between you and your identity, and what your identity was.”
Preston Fakrell, from Highland, Utah, will be attending BYU in the fall, and he attended the event to see Michael McLean.
“To be honest, (the concert) was all great,” he said. “You could just tell, … (McLean) didn't have a script. He was just saying from his heart, and I really loved how real he was and how he just kind of sang from his heart.”
As a part of the event, musicians also recognized and honored Janice Kapp Perry, who has written over 3,000 songs, many of which appear in the Church’s hymnbook and the Children's Songbook.
“We want to present this award to you a recognition of your extraordinary contributions to faith, centered music, and the lives you've touched through your songs,” Crockett said when presenting the award. “Your work has inspired generations and we are deeply grateful for you.”
After the concert, Gardner said that she liked the tribute.
“I think we were all in tears, at that moment, at her legacy,” she said.
Crockett explained that they hoped that the performances reminded people that music is more than background noise.
“Music is something powerful. It can communicate, it can build bridges, it can tear down walls,” Crockett said. “It's a language all of its own and the spirit can definitely attach itself to music and touch people's heart.”
