BYU Vocal Point singers require faith, talent and money

PROVO — The singing, dancing, entertaining members of BYU’s Vocal Point a cappella group sacrifice for their moments in the sun.

Like the other members of BYU’s 18 performing groups, they must pay their own way.

And it gets harder when an opportunity like performing on a national television show comes along.

McKay Crockett works part-time running a recording studio in Sandy.

“Since the ‘Sing-Off,’ I’ve had to turn down most clients because between school and Vocal Point there is no time to work. While the show did provide our lodging and a small stipend, most of us have been unable to do a lot of work outside of school and Vocal Point for the last little while,” Crockett said.

“The time with Vocal Point is invigorating, thrilling and exhausting,” Keith Evans said. “It’s hard to find time to do normal, real-life things in the midst of all the sound checks, performance, meeting with fans, traveling, arranging, rehearsing. ... Boy, I get tired just making the list.”

The nine vocalists employ a variety of scenarios to keep it together.

Robert Seely washes windows.

Jake Hunsaker and Ben Murphy work part-time at the Missionary Training Center in Provo.

Percussionist (you ought to see the interesting sounds he can make with just his hands and mouth) Tanner Nilsson works at Equinox IT Services as a consultant using his wages to pay for tuition, books, mortgage, insurance, food and utility bills.

He worries about finding enough time for just him and his wife.

Tyler Sterling is lucky enough to have family financial support so he can focus on school.

Evans is a Brigham Young University graduate and still devotes major time to Vocal Point.

One thing that gets the members of the group through, according to Evans, is to make sure they are 100 percent invested and excited about Vocal Point.

“Yes, it’s tough investing a great deal of time in something that doesn’t put money in my pocket, but life is full of enriching, rewarding activities that matter more than a paycheck: family and church responsibilities, community service, etc.,” Evans said. “There’s no such thing as ‘done.’”