Musical Experiences

I started enjoying music when I was little. My mother used to play the piano while we would be falling asleep, when we were young. When I was in the 4th grade my mother started to teach me piano lessons. I really didn't like them, but it put me in the right direction.

I remember as my family and I traveled, when I was a teenager, my sisters would sing. They sounded good together. When I tried to chime in, they would tell me to be quiet. I was determined that I could do as well as they.

In the summer of my 6th grade year, before going into Jr. High School, I started learning to play the trumpet. I continued all through my Jr. High and High School years. When I went into High School I also became interested in vocal music.

In the early 1960's, while living in Utah, my mother was the Ward Choir Director. Our Stake music organization invited J. Spencer Cornwall, the then director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to hold a seminar on conducting and choral singing. My mother let me attend with her. In fact, I was the only boy singing and sang Soprano. He also taught us how to direct music, which was my first instructions in that area.

While in Utah, as Junior, Maestro Maurice Abravenel had just been hired by the Utah Symphony to be the conductor. He started a program known as the "Granite Youth Symphony Orchestra". I tried out and was one of four trumpet players to be accepted. It was a great learning experience, taught by top musicians and once in awhile by Maestro Abravenel. At the end of my Junior year the orchestra performed a concert, during which Maestro Abravenel conducted the main piece.

Just before my Senior year of High School, my family moved to Burley Idaho. After try outs I was accepted as a member of the high school's Concert Choir and Bel Cantos, the performing group. I also played in the band and the orchestra. Orchestra was during German language class, but the orchestra needed another French Horn Player and the Orchestra teacher made arrangements with my class teacher to let me out once in awhile so I could practice. There I learned to play the French Horn.

In band I played the trumpet to begin with. Then, the teacher moved me to Tuba/Sousaphone because there was a need. In that position I also played the Sousaphone in the school's marching band, which performed at football games, basketball games and parades. I also learned to play the Baritone.

When in Business College in Twin Falls, Idaho I was the Business College Choral Director, as well as being one of the student body leaders. Then, in the Marine Corps I was allowed to form the C&E Battallion Choral, I directed the choir for the Catholic services and I directed a recruit choir for the LDS Church on base. I also had a chance to sing at several clubs off base and played trumpet in a small band.

When I was transferred to Yokosuka, Japan in the service, I formed a musical group which performed at the base theater many times, sang and played in a band which played at various clubs on and off base, performed in a semi-professional theater group and sang in a variety of concerts. I took music theory lessons from the University of Maryland.

After serving an LDS mission, I moved back to Idaho. While I was the Public Relations Director at the St. Anthony Community Hospital, I attended school at Idaho State University. There I took vocal lessons and study choral conducting. While in Pocatello I formed a group known as Harmony Kids. We performed all over the city and surrounding areas. I also was the children's choral director for the city's production of "Oliver" and had one of the leading roles.

I moved to Layton, Utah. There I became a student at the then Weber State College. I sang in a performing choral group known as the Weber State Singers, took private voice lessons and piano lessons. I also studied music theory. While attending the college I gave voice lessons and promoted three of my students. All three had the opportunity of being the front group for professional groups which came to perform at Weber State College.

After marriage, I performed with the Jay Welch Choral, named after and directed by Jay Welch, a former director of the Tabernacle Choir. I went back to school at the University of Utah, working on a minor in Music. I attended many music classes, including theory, appreciation and conducting. I didn't have many classes left before I could have earned a Minor in Vocal Music. One of my instructors was a very famous composer and brother to one of the church's General Authorities. After leaving the UofU, and entering my final school, which didn't offer music, I sang with the Utah Symphony Chorale.

I have performed in theater productions of South Pacific, Oliver, My Fair Lady, Under the Yum Yum Tree, and Fiddler on the Roof. I have sung in Regional Choirs, church choirs and have sung many solos. When I was taking voice lessons I had a 3 octave range. It now diminished somewhat, but I can still sing first tenor and bass.