Students at Shadow Ridge High School are bursting with so much talent. Zion’s Youth Symphony and Chorus provides an outlet for students who can sing or play an instrument to share their talents with a wider audience. Teenagers ages 14-18 unite together in this program for instrumentalists and singers to share uplifting and inspiring music.

Established in 2003, Zion’s Youth started out as a small orchestra run by three local music teachers, Jenny Jackson, Terilyn Taylor, and Jeremy Woolstenhulme. Since then, Zion’s Youth has become bigger and better performing in places like The Smith Center and Stadium of Fire and performing alongside famous singers such as David Archuleta, Yaphet Bustos, and the Jonas Brothers.

On November 10, this upcoming Sunday at both 4:30pm and 7:30pm, Zion’s Youth will be performing their special Christmas show, “For I am Called by Thy Name,” at The Smith Center. The show is described as “a musical celebration of the Savior Jesus Christ.” Zion’s Youth usually perform twice a year at The Smith Center with various shows during  the winter and spring with additional shows sometimes in between seasons.

Senior Ella Barney, soprano 2 section leader for the choir, explains how participating in the choir has been enjoyable for her and a good learning experience.

“This season I feel like I’ve been able to connect and talk more with my section unlike previous years. I like just feeling comfortable and happy as I learn and help others out. It has been a learning curve for me to lead sectionals, but I do feel like I’ve started to get the hang of it,” Barney explains.

Sophomore and violinist in the Zion’s Youth symphony, Haden Williams also enjoys the social aspect and community of the other teenagers in Zion’s Youth. 

“I have enjoyed playing the violin at Zion’s Youth with a lot of my friends like KJ Poulsen, Anna Leavitt, Lyza Barrus, Brynlee Barrus, Ava Stosich, and Aspen Stevens,” Williams remarks. “Whenever I go to practice I know that I will have friends there that I can hang out with and have a fun time around.”

Most of Williams’ friends from Zion’s Youth, and many others, are also in the Chamber Orchestra class at Shadow Ridge. Symphony members like Williams work hard learning different pieces for both Zion’s Youth and for the school band or orchestra programs. However, Williams says it has been easy juggling the two so far, as long as he practices at home.

Williams comments, “The most challenging part of Zion’s Youth would be that I had to learn a lot of different pieces in a very short amount of time. But, Zion’s Youth has also been very beneficial because any skills I learn at Zion’s I can apply to the music I play in school or home as well.”

The performance usually lasts for about an hour, giving the choir and symphony a lot of pieces to learn in a few months.

Barney urges students to attend their upcoming performance. She shares, “We’ve worked hard to prepare, pouring in our time, hearts, and souls into this performance, harnessing the talents we were given. On Sunday, we gather together to celebrate the names of Jesus Christ and remember him this upcoming Christmas season.”

People interested in attending can purchase tickets for the show here.