Nebo Choir Students Shine at the Abravanel Hall Concert
After a full day of rehearsals, more than 500 high school students from across the state gathered in separate Women’s and Men’s Honor Choirs for an afternoon concert in Abravanel Hall in downtown Salt Lake City, on Jan. 22.
Sponsored by the Utah Music Educators Association, the Women’s Honor Choir was conducted this year by retired choir teacher, Tana Esplin (Juab High School) and the Men’s Honor Choir was conducted by
Justin Bills, the director of choirs at Salem Hills High School and accompanied by John Sargeant, principal accompanist at Salem Hills.
This year’s performance marks the restart of the decades-long Honor Choir tradition in Utah, which was paused in 2021 due to COVID-related concerns.
Leslie Walker, choir director from Springville High School, said of the event,
“In comparison with other honor choir groups, this group was especially on fire and full of enthusiasm. I think it was partly because they appreciated being there more than other years because of the pandemic. They all had a great experience with the conductors and with singing together.”
Eighty high school students from Nebo School District participated in the choirs this year.
Maple Mountain High School
Braden Rymer, director Madeline Bell, Maelee Croshaw, Anna Giboney, Kaleb Hales,
Brendyn Hiatt, Koen Hill, Logan Jackson, Annie Martineau, Ellie Mason, Elsa McCown, Will Murri, Olivia Okerlund, Tate Robertson, Autumn Samson, Clayton Smith, Megan Smith, Ana Stokes, Joshua Udy.
Payson High School
Marilyn Morgan, director Siboney Becerril-Bishop, Brylie Black, Alysha Child, Alex Cowie, Emily Faux, Amanda Johnson, Macin Kuester, Reagan McKenna, Whitney Nielson, Brandt Peterson, Maya Sorenson, Steven
Ward, Allie Young.
Salem Hills High School
Justin Bills, director Hannah Anderson, Daniel Baird, Zane Bergstrom, Parker Betts, Jaren Carlile, Hunter Casperson, Chloe Christensen, Jacob Cook, Matthew Cox, Allison Crawford, William Hansbrow, Ellie Hine, Taylor Holdaway, Braden Horrocks, Rebecca Koyle, Kayden Labrum, James Levie, Finley Lewis, Michael Lubben, Lana Marks, Ceirra McBride, Ethan McBride, Kambell McPhail, Camie Mehl,
Joshua Miles, Phillip Nelson, Adam Nielson, Dallin Peterson, Karadyn Sandberg, Samantha Shaurgaard, Christian Shuler, Jacob Spangler, Keller Sinson, Lilly Stratton, Millie Taylor, Preston Wallentine, Isaac Webster, Emma Wilcox.
Springville High School
Leslie Walker, director Kate Christensen, Seybrielle Dulin, Lilli Kilpack, Kaden Martindale, Lewis Miller, Sylvia Orme, Emma Payne, Azulene Pazmino, Camrie Snapp, Adria Young.