The Salt Lake Community College choirs are living the principle that music has power beyond dispute. The music they sing becomes the memories in which they are relating. Their next concert run will be in honor of Veterans Day on November 11 and 12. The concert will take audience members to the different wars in American history through song.
“The first part of the program we’ll do some folk songs [and] patriotic songs,” said Lyle Archibald, director of choirs at SLCC.
With the 10 year anniversary of September 11th having occurred this year, it is appropriate to honor those soldiers who are currently or have previously served in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Through music, these choirs are able to do so.
“We wanted to commemorate that the war is still going on,” Archibald explained.
Currently, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan make up one of the longest wars in American history. They have affected citizens all over the country, personally and generally. This war is part of students history today.
“Many of them [students] have grown up knowing brothers and sisters, or aunts and uncles or parents [who have served in those countries]. I mean, this is America’s longest war and they [students] have certainly grown up knowing friends and family that have been to Iraq or Afghanistan,” Archibald said. “There are several people in the choir that have served there.”
In honor of these people, the SLCC choirs will have the opportunity to sing “Memorial,” a developmental work by American composer Rene Clausen. In this piece, four movements of September 11th will be portrayed: the morning of the attacks, the attacks themselves, petitions and prayers. This will be the Utah premier of “Memorial.”
With an event such as this one, it is pertinent that choirs progress in more ways than one. According to Archibald, that is exactly what they did.
“This music is more difficult. It is more challenging in many ways and they have risen to the occasion,” he said. “They are singing more musically.”
The concerts will take place at the Grand Theatre on South City Campus, located at 1575 South State Street. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students. Tickets are free to SLCC students with ID.
As a way of thanking those who serve our country, tickets are free for members of the military as well.
