Church Music Festival

Friday night was the Church Music Festival dinner and concert. It's where they honor the winners of the Church Music Submission (contest) with a dinner, and then perform their pieces at a concert at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. Emily and I were both honored guests. She won an Award of Merit in the Instrumental category, and I won an Award of Merit in the Hymn Arrangements category. We each got to take a guest to the festivities. I took Russ, and Emily took her friend Audrey Timmerman. We left the other kids at Russ's parents' house so they could come with them to the concert.Self-portrait on the way there

The dinner was first. We had something like chicken cordon bleu, but it had mushrooms and spinach inside it as well as ham and cheese. There were noodles and colorful steamed vegetables on the side. The drink was sparkling white grape juice. Dessert was vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce in a waffle bowl.We sat at the table with Jared Haddock and his wife. Jared is an events producer for the church music and cultural arts division. That means he and two other men are in charge of all the concerts, conferences, plays, pageants, and productions like the "Brand New Year" video that was produced for the youth. He and David Warner write the scripts and lyrics and Ross Booth writes the music. He was familiar with the music I wrote for the General Young Women's Meeting that is coming up because he was one of the people who had to screen it to see if it was what they wanted. He was familiar with the key changes and all, so we had a fun conversation about that. He said, "Do you know how central your piece is to the meeting? Sister Dalton based her entire message on that. I think you'll be surprised." Wow, that put me on pins and needles to see what it's going to be like. After we ate, they handed out certificates to all the award winners. Then Elder Madsen of the seventy spoke to us about the mission of music in the church and how important it is. It was a great message. He challenged us to always write the music of "light" and use our talents to glorify God.

When it was over, Judith Roberts Spragg came over to meet Emily and congratulate her. Judith has won something in the contest for the last eight years consecutively. She went on and on about how impressed she was that Emily won an award at such a young age. Before we left for the concert, I got some pictures with some of my fellow composer/writer friends.

John Pearson, a talented hymn text writer

Bonnie Hart Murray, another talented hymn text writer

Kathleen Holyoak, writer/arranger and gifted musician

I was anticipating another friend of mine being at the concert. Her name is Joanna Smith and we were friends when we were 16 and 17. We only knew each other for about a year until I went to college and she moved. I recently got back in touch with her on the internet, but we had not seen each other or spoken to each other. When I walked into the Assembly Hall, I was scanning the room for her. I saw a row of people from Nephi including several Emily's friends, her piano teacher, and her violin teacher. and I waved at them and smiled. Her seminary teacher showed up a little later and sat with them as well. Pretty soon, Joanna and I caught each other's eye and worked our way to the middle of a row where we had a great reunion of hugs and laughter. It was so good to see her! She had come alone, so I told her she needed to sit by me in the reserved section. It's strange how in our minds, time doesn't pass when we don't see someone for a long time. We are now both 40. So strange!The concert was wonderful! Every song was so good and uplifting. There is so much talent to be discovered. When Emily's song came up, Russ reached his hand out to Emily who was sitting on the bench behind us with Audrey and another friend, Everett Searle. Russ held her hand and cried all through the song. My sisters said there were a lot of people crying and sniffing after Emily's piece.

When the concert was over, Emily was mobbed with well-wishers.

Her seminary teacherThe young women and the Young Women's president (our next-door neighbor)

Her missionary friend's family

Her piano and violin teachers

A hug from a proud grandpaThe conductor of the choir came down to congratulate her, as well as the mother/daughter team who played her music on the piano and violin. Lots of friends, and people she didn't know, and fellow composers came to tell her how impressed they were with her writing. It was so fun to watch! I kept Joanna by me until she had to leave, and I introduced her to everyone. I was so happy to have her there with me. Russ took pictures like crazy! An acquaintance of mine from college was there with her sister. They write songs together and have won awards before.

We were some of the last to leave, as always. On the way out, I talked to Michael Moody, former Church Music Committee Chairman. He always goes on about how talented I am, and this time he mentioned my chord progressions and the way my piece built to a climax. He is always so complimentary. I told him I consider him a benefactor because he gave me my start. He is the one who asked me to write for the General Young Women's Meeting in 2005. He has retired from his position on the committee and this year he entered a hymn with his cousin, Penelope Moody Allen, and they received an Award of Merit.

When we finally left, everyone who was still there posed for a picture outside the Assembly Hall.

We went back to Russ's parents' house where there was a huge ice cream party going on. Even the people from my side of the family were there, and some people were there who didn't make it to the concert. Molly was trying to figure out which one was Aunt Lisa and which one was Aunt Barbara. It was so fun! I really appreciated them hosting that and providing the ice cream. What a great night!