Logan instructor steps up and steps in

The Utah State University Logan campus University Chorale unite with the USU Eastern campus Concert Choir to present “Out of the Deep” on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Price City Civic Auditorium.
“Current members of the USU Eastern choir were impacted by the 2007 Crandall Canyon mine disaster, and this performance is to commemorate those affected by the disaster,” said Greg Benson, vice chancellor of USU Eastern.
Carbon and Emery counties are places where many livelihoods come from the earth and the 2007 mine disaster greatly impacted the people there.
“As I remembered back to the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster five years ago, ‘Requiem’ by John Rutter caught my attention,” said Michael Huff, director of the USU Logan University Chorale. “I could imagine the pleas from out of the deep to see loved ones once more and I built the program from these imaginings.”
The second movement of “Requiem,” “out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord,” inspired Huff and from there the program was created. The program will feature spirituals that give voice to hope and faith. The final piece will be “My God Is Rock”-a subject that resonates close to the hearts of many in Carbon and Emery counties.
The USU Eastern Choir is a non-auditioned ensemble full of students of all academic degrees. The students are able to further their musical skills and enjoy the experience while studying subjects other than music.
The concert will be held in the Price City Civic Auditorium located at 185 East Main Street. “Out of the Deep” is free and open to the public.
Nate Manley’s thoughts
It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride for the USU Eastern Music Department Eastern’s “admiral,” Russell Wilson took a leave of absence. Benson picked up the slack, performing all responsibilities besides teaching the music classes, while Kaye Fox and Elyse Tuttle instructed the choir and music classes.
Huff traveled to Price Saturdays for the end-of-year concert. Don’t let his humble nature fool you, he exudes a passion for music and is undoubtedly a qualified professional.
“Benson approached the USU Music Department and asked if one of our conductors could help. Dr. Michael Bankhead, our music department head, asked me if I would meet with Benson. We met, and came up with the idea of combining singers from both campuses, and a concert was born. I don’t like putting on a concert just for it’s own sake. I like having a theme, or some thread that lends sense and meaning to the program,” Huff said.
“In looking at the geography, recent history, and the literature I was considering, it occurred to me that we had an interesting confluence of thoughts. Carbon and Emery county is mining country. And it’s been five years since the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster.
“So, I thought let’s do a Requiem. John Rutter’s work is accessible, beautiful, and has text that matches well with the occasion: ‘Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord’.
“Then it occurred to me that this is also the 350th year since the codification of The Common Book of Prayer, used by the Anglican Church, and drawn from liberally by Rutter in his Requiem. So, we have the Requiem, a musical work that offers comfort to the bereaved. And we have spirituals on the “bookends” of the concert that are strong statements of Faith.
“Working with students from the CEU campus has been a particular joy. And combining these new friends with students I get to see all the time has been really fun. I’m excited about this concert, and look forward to crossing the finish line together with all of you.”