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SALT LAKE CITY — Two internationally-recognized choirs call Salt Lake City home. A new documentary tells the story of one of them -- the Madeleine Choir School.
Founded in 1996, it remains unknown to many, even in Utah.
"We have this happen all of the time, where someone will come to the cathedral (of the Madeleine) and hear the children and just be shocked that this exists here," said Founder Gregory Glenn.
The only coed choir school in North America, it includes children in fifth through eighth grades. Their training, commitment, and search for musical perfection highlight the documentary "The Choir."
For the filmmakers, this is a remarkably important story to tell. It is also deeply personal.
It makes me feel good when we're actually making people happy.
–Thomas Kearns, choir member
Executive Producer Michael Kearns and his wife, Miriam Kearns, first heard the choir as an engaged couple in 1997.
"We sat in the back of this cathedral and went, ‘Do you think they'll sing at our wedding?' They just blew us away," he said.
Miriam Kearns added, "It was a beautiful introduction to the school and we continued to support it until we had our first child."
That first child, Thomas, has been a choir member for three years and remembers making the decision to join.
- Running time: 90 minutes
- Chronicles a 'year in the life' of choir members
- Screened twice at Salt Lake Public Library
- DVD and more information available at thechoirfilm
"I thought the music was just great. I was about 5 when I said, ‘One day, I'm going to go sing (in the choir)," he said.
Membership requires hours of rehearsals every week with challenging liturgical music.
"We travel a lot and lots of people like to see our concerts," said another choir member, Eric Stevens. "It's always a full house."
Wherever they perform, the children -- who many say sound like angels -- deliver a message of joy.
"Certainly music like this is the conduit to our souls. It's so beautiful," said Michael Kearns.
