Piano Guys and Jenny Oaks Baker Concerts Include Young Local Musicians 2022

Thanks to Iron County Today for recognizing these young musicians.

Thanks to Stephen Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt and Jenny Oaks Baker for making these opportunities available for students.

Photo from Jenny Oaks Baker performance is from the Iron County School District social media.

Local Student Musicians Appear In Professional Shows

Sara Penny Wed, Jan 04, 2023

It's not every day one is invited to perform alongside musical greats like The Piano Guys and Jenny Oaks Baker. // COURTESY SARA PENNY

Iron County students had the opportunity of performing with the Piano Guys at SUU and with Jenny Oaks Baker and Family at the Heritage Theatre during December. These experiences help give them insight into what it takes to be a professional musician.

There may only be two people on stage during the Piano Guys, but there is an army of helpers who make it look spontaneous. While I was watching from behind the scenes as the students were getting ready to go onstage for “Beethoven’s Secret” there was a stage manager to guide them plus a man with heavy gloves hammering dry ice to put in the container that adds the stage fog. There were sound and light people plus a contingent of SUU staff handling security and other tasks.

It has been my opportunity to prepare the violin team for Piano Guys three times. The students have to work hard on the intonation and memory, but that is just a start. They have to perform with the distraction of noise and lights. They have to walk on stage in the dark, be set up, and start exactly on time. We try to get them to smile and enjoy the experience.

Brynlee Cozzens was in the first team I trained. Her sister Brooklin was unsure whether to participate this year because it is an intimidating experience. Brynlee told her, “ You have to. You will never have another experience like it in your life. They are great and their love of music is amazing.”

The students had group practices as well as individual practice and a sound check. I put in about ten hours organizing, rehearsing, and being with them for the concert. The group represented both Cedar high schools and New Harmony plus four private violin teachers. Abby Wright was a good sport about being an alternate. The students are incredibly busy because we had to juggle rehearsals around choir, soccer, basketball, and dance. These young people have put years into learning to play the violin at a level where they can participate in this concert. Steven Sharp Nelson and Jon Schmidt are always gracious and encouraging to them, so that it is a joy to participate.

Canyon View High School Choral director Alex Byers organized the high school choirs for the Baker performance. “We were contacted about working with Mrs. Oaks Baker back in May. I jumped on the opportunity and began communicating with her about the needs of the show. At this time, I reached out to Mark Ganowsky and we brought the Cedar High Madrigals on board for a collaborative effort. We received the music, instructions, and recordings to begin rehearsing.

The experience was a truly professional one for the students. We had one day—a total of four hours—to rehearse and perfect everything with Jenny and the Family Four, so everything from our end needed to be ready in advance. That’s just how things are done in the touring world, so it was really neat for the students to get an opportunity to experience that.

Many of the students also expressed that it was a great learning experience and something that they would be interested in doing again. The concert itself came off without a hitch. It was an amazing opportunity to sing with such a world-class artist, and I was honored to be able to conduct. The students performed amazingly, inspired those who came, and learned a lot in the process.”

We are so proud of our young musicians. They are dedicated and prepared to perform at a high standard. We also appreciate the support of the families and friends that encourage and support these young people in their continuing musical endeavors.\

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More photos from our Piano Guys experience:

Aubrie Ransom, Abby Wright, Matthew Shumate, and Aliyah Hathaway for evening practice

Back row Sara Penny, Steven Sharp Nelson, Matthew Shumate, Ashlyn Condie, Ellyn Rock, Aliayah Hathaway, Emery Miles, Jon Schmidt, front row is Aubrie Ransom, Brooklin Cozzens, and Kiana Davis

Onstage during afternoon sound check rehearsal.

Steven Sharp Nelson and Jon Schmidt with students

Alex Byers directing the combined high school choirs during the rehearsal with Jenny Oaks Baker and Family. (Photo from Iron County School District social media).