Concert opens events center
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RICHFIELD, Utah — In its first visit to this southern Utah city, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir gave a gift to the community, an Oct. 10 concert, the inaugural event in the new $18 million Sevier Valley Center.
"It was a wonderful night of music and celebration for the entire community who has given so much for this building," said Michael Benson, president of Snow College, the institution based in Ephraim, Utah, that owns the center as part of its Richfield campus. President Benson thanked the taxpayers of Sevier County who passed a bond election making possible the building, constructed in partnership with Richfield City, Sevier County and the Sevier School District.
It is intended to function as a cultural center for the citizens of the county as well as an education and an events facility for the college, said Marci Larsen, assistant to the president. She said the 140,000-square-foot building has 10 classrooms, a theater and an arena. Among events scheduled at the center are some regional conferences for area stakes of the Church, she said.
Presented as a gift from the choir and the Church to the community, the 90-minute concert featured selections performed during the choir's recent tour of the northeastern United States. Choir Manager Scott Barrick said that as the choir entered the arena it received a spontaneous standing ovation. Directed by Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, the choir earned three standing ovations at the close of the program, which ended with its signature "Battle Hymn of the Republic." The encore selections were "Climb Every Mountain," "This Land Is Your Land," and "God Be with You Till We Meet Again."
