Over the past several years, the Southern Utah Heritage Choir has conducted numerous performance tours throughout the United States and the world, including Washington D.C., Carnegie Hall, Midwestern United States, San Diego, Vienna, England, Ireland, Scotland, Central Europe, Armenia, Czech Republic, China, and Mexico. The choir is eagerly anticipating their next performance tour in Rome, Italy, October 8-15, 2019. In preparation for this excursion, the choir under the direction of Principal Conductor Dr. Ken Peterson, and Associate Conductor Kathy Brown, with accompanist and Artistic Director Tami Creamer, with Jennifer Redfearn at the piano, and Karen Kennedy at the organ, will present their annual fall concert “To Italy With Love” on Friday, September 20, 2019, at 7:30 P.M., in the Cox Performing Arts Center, Dixie State University. The program includes favorites from their 2018-2019 concert repertoire as well as some beloved hymns and anthems that span over two decades of performances. It also incorporates four a’cappella pieces that the choir will be performing in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. To begin the concert, the choir pulls out all the stops to present Jeffery L. Ames’ majestic, rhythmic Latin setting titled “Gloria Fanfare,” followed by Dan Forrest’s exquisite “My Jesus I Love Thee.” The choir will finish the set with an a’cappella selection, Ralph Manuel’s timeless “Alleluia,” followed by Tami Creamer’s touching arrangement of “Take Time to be Holy.” Next featured are three traditional Americana selections. First, the choir picks up the pace with Mack Wilberg’s exuberant “Bound for the Promised Land,” followed by “Pilgrim Song,” a stirring, folk hymn with rich, harmonic texture arranged by Ryan Murphy, Associate Conductor of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The choir finishes with Shawn Kirchner’s “Sweet Rivers,” a delightful favorite from the choir’s Flag Day Concert that pairs an old hymn text with an original melody. Kirchner’s brilliant work also couples polyphonic choral style with a banjo-like piano accompaniment. Both elements add considerable motion and excitement throughout the piece. The list of favorites continues with Mack Wilberg’s inspiring “Come, Come Ye Saints” followed by two short, yet moving a’cappella pieces, Rene Clausen’s “Set Me As A Seal” and a Russian hymn, “Hear My Prayer” by Alexander Kopylov. Organist, Karen Kennedy will then follow with Rick Elliot’s intricate organ arrangement of Handel’s “The Rejoicing.” The choir returns with more favorites: Craig Courtney’s masterful text painting expressed in “From Earth to Heaven,” Norwegian composer, Ola Gjeilo’s stunning piece “Across the Vast Eternal Sky,” one last a’cappella selection, “God So Loved the World,” and Tami Creamer’s “I Know That My Savior Loves Me,” a children’s hymn that has become a favorite throughout the world. The choir will close with Dan Forrest’s compelling arrangement of one of the most beloved hymns of all time, “How Great Thou Art.” The choir invites the community to enjoy this wonderful evening of music.

https://www.nowplayingutah.com/event/fall-concert