Salt Lake Children's Choir marks 30th year

When the Salt Lake Children's Choir walks on to the stage in Abravanel Hall for its spring program next weekend, it will be more than just a concert. It will also mark the choir's 30th anniversary.

In its three-decade existence, the choir has been directed by only one person, founder Ralph B. Woodward, who is both thrilled and amazed that the choir is still going strong.

"I never really foresaw it going for so long," he told the Deseret News. "But it has been a rewarding experience."

And the time has gone by rather quickly, he added. "It ought to seem like a long time, but it doesn't. The characters have changed — and I guess I have, too — but we're still doing the same thing."

It was a desire to teach youngsters correct vocal technique that prompted Woodward to start the choir. "You seize the moment," he said. "I was determined to have a children's choir. I put a notice in the paper and kids showed up" for the first rehearsal. That was in October 1979.

Starting the choir was important to Woodward. "I would never have been able to do this unless I had the desire to help and encourage kids to sing. The choir motivated kids to pursue singing and not take the impulse and follow the pop route. There's nothing wrong with pop music, of course, but it's not the best for vocal health."

There was another reason for starting the choir. "There is so much beautiful music, and children can sing it like no one else. It's heavenly hearing a children's choir sing."

And after 30 years, Woodward is still mesmerized by the sound. "Something in the sound still gets me," he said. "It's something indescribable that kids have."

And a lot of that music will be performed at this concert. The program will be a showcase of the choir's 30-year history. And anyone who has attended the Salt Lake Children's Choir previous spring concerts knows what to expect. No one in the audience will be disappointed, Woodward said. "We'll tap into the Renaissance and also do art songs by Schubert, Brahms and Mendelssohn."

The Brahms song they'll be singing, "Nightingale," is a piece that Woodward looks forward to doing again. "It's been years since we did it. It's really introspective and wistful and very beautiful. It takes a lot of insight and maturity to express it, and I think this choir can do it. The song is an absolute gem, and it's gratifying having kids be able to do something like this that is subtle and below the surface."