Each year, two to three BYU-Idaho performing arts groups travel outside of Idaho, showcasing the university’s talented students. This spring, 46 student performers traveled to the Pacific Northwest as part of the BYU-Idaho Symphony Band to play for audiences across Washington state and British Columbia, Canada.
This year’s program, entitled “Symphonic Soundscapes,” featured works from world-renowned composers like George Gershwin, popular sounds from “The Wizard of Oz,” and familiar hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Kristine Ashton from Maple Ridge, Canada, expressed her appreciation for the performance saying, “I really loved hearing ‘Let Us All Press On.’ That this was an arrangement made especially for your band. That was played with such feeling. Everyone has been so welcoming, and we appreciate it very much. It meant a lot that you came to our country with the beautiful music.”
Tour stops included Duncan, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, just outside the sprawling metropolitan area of Vancouver, as well as Federal Way and Olympia, Washington, near Seattle. A special Sunday evening devotional was also held at the Bellingham, Washington Stake Center.
Becky Marriott, a Washington resident, shared her excitement to have the BYU-Idaho visit close to home, saying, “It touched my heart that they would want to come to the Pacific Northwest because I love it here.”
While on tour, students were able to learn about Canadian history while visiting the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria and experience the beauty of the Pacific Northwest inside the world-famous Butchart Gardens, but student say the highlight of the tour was connecting with the audiences.
John Somoza (Wylie, TX) who plays the trumpet, shared, “Seeing the light and smiles on these people's faces as we perform and after we perform has been the highlight of the tour.”
“I think my favorite part was getting to know everyone else that was also on tour and then definitely playing for everybody and seeing them find so much joy in the music that we are playing, I think we made a difference,” Ryanne Abbott (Colorado Springs, CO) who plays the flute, added.
Students shared how performing the same repetoire night after night on tour helped them to improve as musicians.
“Doing this multiple times has gotten me really good at being consistent. I love routine and it's been really nice to have a set schedule and really learn the music,” Abbott mentioned.
“It’s been fun to try and get consistently better with each performance and try and stay on my A game,” Megan Olsen (Idaho Falls, Idaho), who plays percussion, added. “That is hard to do, to stay focused for so long, especially after being exhausted while traveling. I think it will really help me moving forward, to remember this experience.”
But students didn’t just grow as musicians but in their discipleship as well.
“I think all of us have grown closer together and discovered each other's testimonies and discovered how much we rely on our testimonies of Jesus Christ,” Will Griffis (Garden Prairie, IL), who plays the trombone, shared.
“Through music and sharing it with others I have felt the Lord’s love for me as we play, and I think also just being surrounded by other people who love music as much as me and also love the Lord, I have learned a lot from my colleagues and teachers on this tour,” Olsen added.
The testimonies of the students could be seen and felt by the audience.
“It's an incredible experience to see their talent and just how they radiate such happiness and joy for what they are doing,” Marriott said.
Mingling with the audience after each performance was a joyous occasion for both the musicians and audience members.
“It’s incredible to see their faces light up as we are playing,” Somoza shared. “It's an honor that I get to be part of their whole ensemble. I would say it's the people that I get to minister to are the best part of tour.”
In addition to playing for the public in beautiful performance halls across the Pacific Northwest, the band also visited Lake Stevens High School in Washington to play a few numbers and share with the students what it’s like to continue developing as a musician while working on their university studies.
Samantha Schurig, who has already accepted her offer to BYU-Idaho for the coming fall, was thrilled to have the band visit her high school.
“This is surreal. An answered prayer might I add,” she said. “I am so excited to meet new people. I met a couple of flute players today and they are just so warm and welcoming, and I am just so excited for that.”
But Samantha says she didn’t just benefit from the band visit as a future BYU-Idaho student.
“I think my classmates seeing college students also continue to have that in their life, maybe that will prompt them to continue in the future,” Schurig said.
Connecting with high school students was a highlight of the tour for students like Ryanne Abbott and Will Griffis, who are studying music education.
“Seeing those students and the joy they have in music and how much they have learned and have yet to learn makes me happy. I feel like I made a difference for them in that they feel inspired to pursue music throughout their life,” Griffis said.
“I’m going to be a teacher and that is the environment I am going to be in after graduation. I remember when I was in high school having college bands come around and being like, ‘holy moly, they are so good,’ and I remember hoping I could be that good one day. And I don’t know if I am as good as the people that came to see me, but I see the looks on their faces. I loved that experience and that is what kept me going as a musician and as a person. So, my teaching philosophy will be to make sure that everyone that comes into my classroom loves music and I got to do that today,” Abbott shared.
The next BYU-Idaho performance group tour will showcase BYU-Idaho’s premier dance team, Dance Alliance, across Southwest Idaho and Northern Utah at the end of July. For specific dates and locations visit Performance Tours.