Memories Of Mexico

By David Nuffer

Part 1

The Heritage Choir will presents its Fall Choral Concert, An Evening With Mozart and Memories of Mexico, on October 26 and 27, at the Dixie State College Cox Auditorium. The choir just returned from their International Tour to Mexico and are eager to share their recollections.

The recent Southern Utah Heritage Choir International Concert Tour to Mexico demonstrated the power of faith in the face of adversity, the hearty spirit of the choir members, and the willingness of God to watch over and bless his people. The Choir experienced a triumph of joy in concerts culminating perhaps their most successful tour.

Some 300 choir members and guests departed St. George in the early morning hours of September 26 on seven buses destined for the Las International Airport. After considerable flight complications, the choir arrived in Merida at midnight local time, to sort bags and pass through customs in the muggy heat.

Merida was a delight. The town has grown to a metropolis as thousands have fled the pollution, congestion and crime of Mexico City. The people who have lived there longest are descendants of the Maya and the Mayan language is still spoken there. In this city where the Spanish conquerors demolished Mayan temples, a new LDS temple has been built.

The choir’s stay in Merida was marked by two performances in a single night. The beautiful Opera House containing five balconies was rather hot and the evening was humid. Moisture literally dripped from choir members in rehearsal starting at 5pm. Due to the large interest in this concert in Merida, a city of one million, Floyd Rigby had agreed to present two complete concerts in one evening. The first concert, starting at 7pm, presented to standing room only crowd was well performed and received with great enthusiasm, but the second concert starting at 9pm was a stirring success. Choir members were familiar with the music after a performance and rehearsal, and while the hall was hot, the spirit of the choir and audience was even warmer.

Next week the story of their Mexican Tour continues.