Brilliant spectacle
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PROVO, Utah — Combining dynamic choreography with the familiar sounds of an internationally recognized choir and orchestra, various BYU performing groups shared the stage with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square during this year's BYU Spectacular on Sept. 20-21.
The Ballroom Dance Company, BYU Young Ambassadors, and Living Legends joined the choir and orchestra in highlighting the theme "Coming Full Circle," which makes reference to the life and teachings of Karl G. Maeser, BYU's founder and this year's homecoming honoree.
Ten years since their last performance at the university, the choir and orchestra returned to the campus to join in honoring choir director Craig Jessop and associate director Mack Wilberg as they each received the university's Distinguished Service Award.
Between performances, Bruce Olsen, president-elect of the BYU Alumni Association, presented the choir with The Spirit of the Y Award for Music Excellence.
The award was given as an expression of gratitude to the choir and "the generations of musicians who have contributed so much to enable all mankind to experience the love of God through music," said Brother Olsen. The award is the first of its kind issued by the association.
The evening's performances included some selections from Disney's "Tarzan," complete with a jungle backdrop and vine-swinging monkeys. From the new Broadway production, "Mary Poppins," the Young Ambassadors presented an energetic rendition of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," and the Ballroom Dance Company received cheers from the audience for its dance preformed to the theme song of "Pirates of the Caribbean."
The second half of the show was dedicated to the choir and orchestra, with a number of ballroom dancers joining them in elegant choreography for "If You Could Hie to Kolob."
The final musical number was a combined effort by the performers to bring to life the circumstances surrounding the founding of the school and the trials surpassed by Karl G. Maeser during those first few years of the school's history. As Brigham Young Academy's first permanent principal (1876-1892), Dr. Maeser is attributed with having transformed the school from one of declining enrollment to one of the leading schools in the Utah Territory.
Lloyd Newell, the voice of the weekly inspirational broadcast Music and the Spoken Word, emceed the evening's event and noted that the choir and orchestra were excited to return to the campus since a large majority were BYU graduates.
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