EVMCO in SALT LAKE CITY

The week in SLC was amazing! Over 700 singers and instrumentalists from Orange Cty, CA and Mesa/Gilbert, AZ all arrived and recorded in Abravanel Hall until we reached musical perfection :D Well, almost. Then we performed in both the Tabernacle and Abravanel Symphony Hall. The Stewart Brothers, Brett and Brandon, pictured below, had the vision to make this week happen and they worked hard to bring it to fruition. The Elder Brother, Brett composed a new oratorio, "Messiah in America" that we had performed in our separate venues previously and then came together in Salt Lake. What a thrill to sit in the Tab choir seats and sing this inspired music with my dear choir friends. If you are a music person, you know that it just doesn't get much better than that! The CD comes out in Sept.

Amazing EVMCO Concert with Collin Raye!

Patriotic Music is so inspiring! But with 250 children, 75 in the orchestra and 220 voice choir, with Collin Raye on a microphone, we rocked the house. The house was the Mesa Arts center and it was nearly packed. Brought to tears on Battle Hymn of the Republic, which normally seems like the same old, same old kinda song, and with bagpipes on Amazing Grace, it was also a teary moment.
I had the chance to announce for the beginning and for the military tribute, so I just felt it all the more. My hubby Sterling and daughter Marisa both sing in the choir as well, so it was a family affair the whole day, with rehearsal from 2pm...then going until 9:30pm. Marathon music days.I have to say I thrive on those marathon Music days...except for my feet. They didn't do so well. Need to change the shoes I wear in concerts or I'm not going to make it through the recording sessions next week in Salt Lake City for Messiah in America!

MESA ARIZONA EASTER PAGEANT 2011

The Pageant this year was again a spectacular experience. With over 350 in the cast and almost as many in the production staff, it is like a working family for one month. The spirit on the grounds is so sweet and strong as we get ready to tell the story of our Savior Jesus Christ's life and mission. I loved walking around in costume and randomly picking a person to talk to before the performance and share my love for the Lord and how being in the production has given me a better insight into his life. Visiting with others, I often shared the story of how, as Peter's first accuser in the pageant where he denies the Christ, I have to play a difficult part. But I expressed the understanding I have gained that God knows each of us would sin, over and over again in this mortal world. He knows we will. Do we forget this? And yes, this is exactly why he lovingly provided a Savior for us. And that is why we are drawn to our Lord and Savior, because he has done for us what none of us can do for ourselves. We can never repay him but can show we love him by using his atonement and trying again to keep his commandments.
As I shared this short message amidst the 10-15,000 people that came each night, I was surrounded by noise and people bustling to get to their seats for the show. But each time I got to the part of my Love for the Lord and knowledge that I know He lives, it seemed like everything around us was gone...and only the couple or person I was talking to were there with me...and it was still and sweet. I could feel and see on their faces that they felt that way too. The spirit indeed comes and ratifies the truth when we share it with others. I know He lives and loves each of us. The pageant is an opportunity to be a little part of a pageant that sweetly and plainly shares this truth with all who will listen.

AZ Temple Lights Christmas Concert

So, Although it has been a couple of months, I just had a friend send me some pics of my temple lights concert in December. I have to say that it was just a magical night under the starlit Arizona sky. Most of my family and many friends came to support me and I picked some of my favorite songs to sing for a half hour concert: Gesu Bambino, Star of Bethlehem & Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. I also sang the Carpenters' Merry Christmas Darling and Amy Grant's Breath of Heaven and Heirlooms. Since we were on the grounds of the holy temple, I took the chance to bear testimony of it's holiness, beauty and the great gift we receive inside of having our families sealed together forever. A great endowment of the spirit was poured out on us that night and I treasure the chance I had to share music of our Savior's birth on such sacred grounds.

Deseret Book Ladies Night and Constitution Ed Week in UT

What a fun trip to UT in October. I just got the pictures back and had to share a few. I had the chance to sing at the Constitution Education Week in Orem and met the most amazing folks. Great politicians running for office, fabulous presenters who know their stuff on the founding principles of this country and wonderful folks who want to make a difference in their communities. I sang a great arrangement of 2 verses of the Star Spangled Banner, arranged by my friend, Richard Talbot and many other patriotic tunes. I also had the chance to give an hour presentation on Hope and how it can we can build on it every day in our lives.
I went over Conference weekend, so I also got to attend a small Wood reunion for family history and met some new relatives. The Afternoon session of conference was awesome and I got to sit in the conference center with my son Brian and Devin. Sat night during the Priesthood session, I drove up to Logan to sing at the Deseret Book Ladies night. It was jam packed full of women and I sang for about 2 hours and shared some 'stories behind the songs'. All in all it was a great weekend in Utah.

East Valley Mormon Choral Organization- The Real Deal

Sterling and I joined the East Valley Mormon choral organization with julliard trained director- Brandon Stewart. It is a stellar choir with intense rehearsals and grand concerts. If you don't know much about the best choral sounds, vowel modification is paramount. The choirs at BYU really focus on this and the result is a rich uniform sound that has gained national recognition in the choral world. I sang under Dr. Ralph Woodward in the BYU A Cappella choir and enjoyed this rigorous training as well as with the then new director, Dr. Ronald Staheli, who now conducts the BYU Singers- now the top BYU choir.
My friends in that choir are mostly now all singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and it is fun to see them each week on "Music and the Spoken Word" from the 'crossroads of the west'!
With our goals, training and repertoire I can promise that this choir will be doing some amazing things here in the East Valley of Phoenix and beyond! BTW- Brandon Stewart, our director is currently pursuing his Doctoral studies in Piano Performance at Arizona State University.

Steve Vaus

Did backup singing on Sat for grammy award winning country singer, Steve Vaus at the Gilbert Constitution Celebration. He has such inspirational patriotic songs and because I am a tea party patriot, I just loved his music! I also got to shake a tambourine which was quite a switch for me--boots, jeans and a tambourine! When I get a picture of that, I'll post it, cuz I'm usually performing in long black dresses, if you know what I mean. :D