Children's Choir performs tonight

PLEASANT GROVE — Erica Glenn was just the first of the Glenn children who got a musical start in the Utah Children's Choir.

Now a music composition major at Arizona State, Glenn started writing music not long after she learned her first notes at age 6. When she was 8, her mother had her audition for the children's choir, where she performed until she turned 16.

The choir is divided into three sections, 8-year-olds, 9- to 12-year-olds and the Concert Choir, which has some singers younger than 12.

"It's divided by age and ability," said founder and director Kay Asay.

"It was such an integral part of my life, I can't separate my childhood from that experience," Glenn said.

When she was 14 she composed a piece the choir sang when she graduated. The experience influenced her desire to continue studying composition.

Traveling with the choir was life altering, she said. When she was 10 the choir performed at President Bill Clinton's second inaugural and two years later the choir went to Italy, performing in an international children's festival and in historical locations, including St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

To prepare, Glenn was home schooled for half a year and learned about the country's culture and some of the language.

"That made such a big difference," she said.

Last year she studied in London for a semester and returned to Italy.

Her brothers Kedrik, 18, Patrick, 15, and Dylan, 13, have followed in her footsteps.

Her 8-year-old brother, Devin, is now old enough to join the choir. (Boys may stay in the choir until their voices change.)

The choir was a family affair for Kyle, Brent and Callie Wilson as well. The experience had a "major effect" on me, said Kyle Wilson. He and his two siblings recently joined with three other singers to form One Accord, an a cappella singing group.

Wilson said being in the Utah Children's Choir gave him a great sense of discipline.

Under Asay's baton the choir, founded in 1984, has often been the youngest group at invitation-only festivals competing against high school choirs. The first children who sang in the choir are now in their late 20s or 30s. The trophy case boasts numerous first-place and judge's choice trophies.