Fund raiser for St. Therese Church brings music

Intermountain Catholic

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The Utah Chamber Chorale, under the direction of Joseph T. Toscano performs a concert April 10 to benefit Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, which is recovering from a January fire in the church. The chamber chorale, made up of men and women from various parishes throughout the Diocese of Salt Lake City, performed a compilation of works based on sacred scriptures. With pianist Donna Johnson (above) and violinist Lyn Dobson (not pictured), the chorale sang pieces from Mozart to the conductor himself. Pieces included selections from Mozart’s Coronation Mass, written in 1779, "Rosa Mystica," the negro spiritual "Steal Away," "Peita Signore" by Toscano, Jeanine Brady’s "Jesus Thou Art Mine," and "Ombra Mai Fu." Mid-way through the concert, the Most Reverend John Charles Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, took to the keyboard for some light-hearted fare. He played a portion of a piece by Beethoven, then "Clair de Lune." He then accompanied the chorale for a sing-along of "Amazing Grace." The chorale closed the evening with "You Raised Me Up," "You Can’t Make Me Doubt Him," and the composer’s own "Ave Maria." Father Martin Diaz, pastor of St. Therese, said the fire drew the people together that evening, but the music was appropriate for the ongoing recovery of the church, and for the Easter season, which is bringing with it new life. "The bread of life is Jesus in us," Fr. Martin said. "It makes us who we are. Let the music delight our souls." IC photos by Barbara S. Lee