BYU-Idaho musicians love to see the temple
- posted: 08 Apr. 2008
- scrollarts@byui.edu
Recently, BYU-Idaho students and the surrounding area have been celebrating the arrival, dedication and presence of the Rexburg Idaho temple, and on April 3 the Music Department showed their gratitude by performing “The Rexburg Temple: A Musical Celebration.”
“It was a neat opportunity to share my love of music with others, along with my gratitude for a temple here in Rexburg,” said Kandice Ord, a sophomore studying early childhood special education.
Ord is a member of BYU-Idaho’s University Choir, which was one of six choirs that performed. The Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, Vocal Union, Women’s Glee and Collegiate Singers also performed.
The audience members participated in singing a couple hymns throughout the performance and were treated to an unusual ending to the concert itself.
With the Men’s and Women’s Choir’s positioned on the stage, the Collegiate choir in the alcoves to the sides of the audience and the University Choir in the back of the hall, the audience members were surrounded with sound for the concluding number, “Solomon’s Walls.”
“It was absolutely amazing; I loved how there was sound coming from everywhere. It made me feel energetic and triumphant like I was ready to conquer anything,” said Laura McCarthy, a junior at Preston High School.
The concert included over 450 choral students who had been practicing notes, rhythms and lyrics all semester. The students also had to learn complicated choreography as choirs had to rotate going on and off stage, sometimes combining with another choir.
Randall Kempton, the director of choral activities for BYU-I said he was impressed with how it all went and expressed it to the choirs afterward.
“Choirs and colleagues, you looked and sounded magnificent and carried out the logistical nightmare I created for you without a hitch. The spirit was warm and beautiful all evening,” Kempton said.
Each song had something to do with the temple, whether a desire to attend or just sincere praise and thankfulness for the blessing of having a temple in Rexburg.
“It was really spiritual. On the last song I couldn’t keep the tears back,” said Risa Casperson, a freshman studying history education. 
