Two community outreach choirs sponsored by Utah State University’s Department of Music were invited to be a part of the inauguration ceremony when Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert was sworn in as Utah’s governor Tuesday, Aug. 11, in Salt Lake City.

               

The invitation was extended to Craig Jessop, head of USU’s Department of Music, by Michael Deaver, executive director of the Governor’s Special Initiatives Office.

               

The American Festival Chorus, directed by Jessop, and an advanced choir directed by Jill DeVilbiss in the Cache Children’s Choir organization, were a part of the inauguration program. The choirs performed three selections throughout the hour-long ceremony, including “America the Beautiful,” a special arrangement of “Utah, We Love Thee” and “God Bless America.” The ensembles were accompanied by a U.S. Army National Guard band headquartered in Salt Lake City. The ceremony was taped by Bonneville Broadcasting.

               

The American Festival Chorus is a non-profit choral organization that includes more than 200 volunteer singers from Cache Valley and beyond. Still in its first season, it has performed in Logan, Idaho Falls and Sun Valley, Idaho. The Cache Children’s Choir offers sequential music instruction for children in four choirs and a preschool class.

 

 

Contact: Craig Jessop, artistic director, American Festival Chorus, (435) 797-3015

Contact: John Ribera, managing director, American Festival Chorus, (435) 512-0898