NEW YORK, N.Y. — For the first time in school history, the Brigham Young University-Hawaii Concert Choir took the stage at one of the world's most important and prestigious venues — Carnegie Hall. Long considered a place for the musically elite, Carnegie played host to BYU-Hawaii's premier SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) ensemble as the choir brought a packed New York audience to its feet at the conclusion of its performance of Mozart's "Requiem."

Photo by Monique Saenz

For the first time in school history, members of BYU-Hawaii's concert choir, who come from 15 countries and who have performed internationally, sing in New York City's renowned Carnegie Hall.

Photo by Monique Saenz

Concert choir members meet with members of Harlem Branch following "highlight" performance in newly dedicated meetinghouse.

"The experience was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the members of the choir," explained the group's director, Michael Belnap, who joined the university's music department in 2005. Meriting an invitation to perform at Carnegie compliments the "quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated at the university," he added.

The choir's musical reputation and international flavor have opened many doors for the ensemble, both locally and internationally, with performances in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Taiwan and Singapore. Having worked with Brother Belnap in the past and learning about the choir's successful tour to Japan and Korea in 2004, the organizing company for the Carnegie performance extended BYU-Hawaii an invitation to perform in New York.

The concert choir performed with five other choral groups. Members of the audience were surprised to discover the group's home base was on the North Shore of Hawaii, a distance of roughly 5,000 miles.

"Most of the students from our target area would never have the possibility of seeing Carnegie Hall, let alone performing here," Brother Belnap said.

This year's choir members represent more than 15 countries, including Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea, French Polynesia, Japan, Malaysia, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. According to U.S. News, BYU-Hawaii is the most internationally diverse campus in the nation per capita with more than 74 countries represented.

Masada Vuikadavu, a senior from the islands of Fiji majoring in International Cultural Studies, had never stepped foot on the U.S. mainland.

"I have always loved reading and as a kid I did my traveling through reading about places and people," the student said.

Another choir member who took his first steps on the U.S. mainland recognized the melting pot found in the "Big Apple" and drew comparisons between the city and the international blend found in the choir.

"It's like a fruit salad, all the colors from around the world," said Arthur Ah Loo, a freshman from Samoa, majoring in social work.

Nearly half of the 60-member choir is bilingual (29). English itself is a second language for nearly one-third of the choir members who also study a wide variety of majors, including international business management, mathematics, vocal studies, history, political science, and more.

In addition to the great honor of performing in Carnegie Hall, the choir had the opportunity to visit several famous sites and American icons, such as Grand Central Station, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Ground Zero, the site of the Twin Towers.

The choir also had the rare opportunity to perform at Old Slip Park in lower Manhattan, the site where a statue of Joseph Smith Jr. has been standing since December of 2005, commemorating the founding prophet's 200th birthday.

Along with the impromptu performances and visits to these cultural sites, the choir had another special performance planned — a musical fireside in the newly dedicated Harlem LDS meetinghouse.

"When we did the Harlem fireside with the newly formed BYU-Hawaii Alumni Chapter of New York, that became my tour highlight," said Brother Belnap.

The LDS meetinghouse in Harlem was dedicated just months earlier and Church attendance in the area has seen tremendous growth in a short amount of time.

"Before the tour, the fireside seemed like just another appointment on the itinerary — kind of flew under the radar," said Justin Smith. "That's probably why it was so incredible, because it was an unexpected moment on the tour that really struck a chord. Carnegie was commendable. Harlem was the highlight."

With Harlem and Carnegie now behind them, the concert choir will begin to prepare for its June 2007 tour to China and Mongolia, where it will perform in Beijing, Xian, Urumqi, Tianjin, and Ulaan Bataar.

For more information or to listen to the choir, please visit the BYU-Hawaii Performance and Bookings website: w2.byuh.edu/perform/.