Heritage Choir Makes History

By Vernon Hill

The Southern Utah Heritage Choir is achieving another first in a forthcoming concert tour of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The Choir will be the largest group of performing artists from the United States to perform either in Merida, or in Campeche, Mexico. This was also the case when the Choir traveled to Armenia for a series of concerts two years ago.

The growing reputation of the Heritage Choir has resulted in more invitations to perform abroad than time permits, but an invitation from the Autonomous University Of Yucatan to sing in the capital city of Merida offered opportunities to render a service as well as to perform concerts. Such combined engagements do not occur frequently, but, when they do, they are tailor-made for helping the Choir fulfill its mission of uplifting audiences through music.

The fact that the Choir will perform in two magnificent opera houses with a glorious past and bring hymns from our West as well as classical compositions to eager listeners is a compelling reason for this choir to travel to the Yucatan.

In a meeting with Fermin Herrera, President of the Merida Central Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Director Floyd Rigby and Board Member Vernon Hill were impressed by the words of Stake President Herrera when he said, “You come as angels to offer your love and talent to this Mayan people that grows daily in knowledge and learning.”

Hill observed that on numerous occasions in the past when in attendance at public meetings in Merida where group singing occurred, much of it was sung in a very low register and often was chanted more than it was sung. The merit of such ancient folk styles in music has obvious historical importance, but Hill agreed with Church leader Herrera that the potential of Western music to mold the human heart and understanding has a unique merit also.
In additional conversations with other community leaders in Yucatan it was learned that there is a shortage of music instruction materials, especially hymnals in the schools and churches in Yucatan.
After further discussion with key figures in Merida,, Director Rigby offered to supply 1200 hymnals through the efforts of the Heritage Choir to be used throughout Merida and Campeche.

The Choir extends an invitation to those in the community who wish to support the project of providing hymnals for people in Merida to join with them. Checks should be made payable to the Heritage Choir and identified “for hymnals” and mailed to:
The Heritage Choir
P.O. Box 3281 445 No. Bluff
St. George, UT 84770

All contributions will be acknowledged.
The Choir tour is planned for September26 through October 2. Choir members and friends will travel approximately 7,000 miles and perform five concerts.

The Choir extends a warm welcome to members of the community to join them on this exciting tour. Non-singing friends of the Choir are encouraged to share in the great adventure of this tour through the famed archaeological zones of the Yucatan ending with a day of relaxation in Cancun.
For additional information please call Educational Tours at 656-4849.