One Voice Children's Choir Comes to SCERA 11/10-11

The world was introduced to a new children's choir during the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics under the baton of maestro Masa Fukuda, and the experience was so elevating the group decided to continue singing.

The exuberant150-voice choir began offering concerts and by 2005 they had a new name: One Voice Children's Choir. The arrangements by their beloved director underscore a belief that music should provide entertainment, enlightenment, community and culture while empowering their singers to become leaders as they deliver uplifting messages to change the world for the better, says executive director Susan Campbell.

One Voice Children's Choir will perform at SCERA Center for the Arts Nov. 10 and 11 at 7 p.m., 745 S. State St., Orem. Reserved-seat tickets are $12 for adults, and $10 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. They are available at www.scera.org, by calling 801-225-ARTS or in person at the main office between 10am-6pm weekdays and 12noon-6pm on Saturdays.

The concert will feature a variety of music ranging from popular songs such as Katy Perry's "Rise"; "Glorious," the choir's most requested song; "Let There Be Peace on Earth" and "America the Beautiful," among others. Also planned is "J'imagine," a new video that celebrates a recent tour in France.

Most of the choir's engagements are by invitation, and they recently took the opportunity to perform in France and Normandy. Their invitation came from the French Historic Programs and the U.S. Department of Defense.

They have earned many accolades since their creation. They were given the John Lennon International Music Award, the Utah Music Award for Best Cover of 2016, the Utah Best of State Award for best children's performing group for the past three years, and the BOSS statue for the most outstanding entry in the Arts and Entertainment division.

When they performed with Alex Boyé in a music video of "Let It Go" from the Disney movie "Frozen," it went viral with more than 78 million YouTube views, leading to its selection as YouTube's Top Cover for 2014.

The honors continued. Later that year the choir competed and made the quarter-final round of NBC's "America's Got Talent," performing at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The audition choir is made up of children between the ages of four to 18. Although it holds auditions every May, there are relatively few spots, because the performers tend to stay until they spin out at age 18, Campbell says.

These vocalists have the benefit of some wonderful collaborations, Campbell adds. "Among others, they have performed with Kurt Bestor, David Archuleta, Jessie Clark Funk, the Japanese recording group BLESSA and BYU's popular Vocal Point. Most recently, they recorded an original song written by LDS Church Apostle Elder David Bednar, performed at the Governor's Gala, and were featured artists at the Tabernacle on Temple Square this past New Year's Eve."

The group performs more than 40 times a year, often in fundraising efforts for such projects as Operation Underground Railroad, United Angels Foundation, Utah Healing Field, and many others.

"This group will charm young and old with vocal prowess beyond their years," says Adam J. Robertson, SCERA's President and CEO.