As told by Dixie Johnson
The group now known as the Sounds Choir came into being in a rather roundabout way, through a couple of false starts until it became obvious that this group of musicians belong together. Some of the original members of the choir first got acquainted in the production of Saturday’s Warrior, which ran from November 1975 through March 1976. These members included Dee Rich, Dennis Skoy, Sherri Otteson, Dixie Johnson, Marsha Pratt, Chris Hart Sandy Hart, Warren Grover, Bob Clark, Bob Taylor, Robb Hemming, with Ronda Wood as director and Becky Parkinson as accompanist. The cast and chorus had many good experiences as they traveled to Pocatello, Twin Falls, and Boise with the show. They liked it so well –the all night bus rides, their rehearsals, the fun of being together–and they enjoyed the music they made even more. The choir regretfully disbanded in March, but the cast continued through the summer. During the summer tour, the cast prepared and presented a sacred program called The Master’s Touch. At the end of the tour, Dee suggested to Chris that the choir and cast members from Idaho Falls learn that program and present it in the Idaho Falls area. It didn’t materialize quite yet, but the group did get together for the Festival of Trees in 1976, but it wasn’t until March of 1977 that the choir really got started. Members of the original group invited friends who like to sing to join and the choir was born. We practiced Thursday nights at 8:30 in the 25th ward building on Virlow Drive.
The choir, which didn’t have a name yet, made its debut on a program for Music Week in May 1977. It was a program intended for young people as we entertained them with numbers from Saturday’s Warrior. Later that month we presented The Master’s Touch for the first time. Thereafter until the end of November, we presented this program at least twice a month, more often 3 or 4 times a month. There is no adequate way to express the spiritual uplift we felt from this program. It was such a special message, and it was not unusual to see members of the group wipe in their eyes during this presentation.
Our performances are not always made up of members by the entire group. All of our people are capable musicians in their own right; they have formed smaller ensembles for performance.
In August we were asked to prepare a program for the Idaho. Falls Symphony pop’s concert to be held in October. We saw this as an excellent opportunity to get some exposure to the community so we went to work. We learned Freedom from the musical Shenandoah, American Suite, and Sentimental Journey through the 40s in connection with this performance. We received some good write ups in the newspaper prior to the concert. The overall reaction to our group was favorable, and several people expressed interest in joining the choir after they heard us.
After the concert, we received invitations to perform at several banquet and other events. For the next several months, we were busy performing at church events, political gatherings, Christmas parties, etc.
In the spring of 1979, the Music Club asked us to do a mini version of Brigadoon. We worked hard on it, and it was well received by the community. After that, we formally organized the choir with by-laws, etc., under the direction of our president, Chris Hart, and our director, Ronda Wood.
In the fall we prepared Christmas music for several performances and then prepared for a formal spring concert in 1979. After the concert, we jumped in head first to our musical, Carousel. We ordered some plans and built sets, held auditions. Pretty much the whole choir participated. It was more successful than we ever imagined it would be.
In this period of creating the choir, we didn’t just rehearse and perform. We also had some really fun socials where we got to know and appreciate each other as part of what has become the Sounds “family. “
In the years since, the choir has had some amazing experiences. We’ve done Christmas and spring concerts and the musical every year, as well as being invited to sing at smaller functions.
Beginning in 1989, we performed as part of the Temple Square Concert Series every other year (30 years) until the Covid pandemic shut everything down in 2020. We always had a great time singing in the Assembly Hall, where acoustics are incredible. For those 30 years, singing at the Assembly Hall was just part of our choir year.
We’ve had some other great opportunities in addition to our regular programs, in which most of the choir was able to participate.
In 2000, we were invited to join the Millennium Choir from Salt Lake to debut Lex de Azevedo’s Hosanna oratorio in Jerusalem. We spent the better part of a year getting ready for that, as well as preparing our regular programs. Over 40 members of the choir, as well as members of our families, shared this experience, a once in a lifetime opportunity.
In 2007, we were invited to perform Rutter’s Requiem in Carnegie Hall in New York, under the direction of John Rutter himself. What a great experience that was.
In 2012 and 2015, we were invited to participate in Memorial Day concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Another great experience.
In February 2020, we were invited to sing in a concert performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technical Color Dreamcoat at the Lincoln Center in New York.
We have also invited the community to participate in our summer musical for the past 40+ years, productions that have been very successful and have given members of the choir to discover new talents. It’s been a lot of fun.
As we continue to sing together, we look forward to more great opportunities. The choir was formed by a group of people who loved to sing. Hopefully, people who love to sing will continue to move the choir forward.