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COMMUNITY
TheMesaTribune.com |
THE MESA TRIBUNE | APRIL 24, 2022
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Sonoran Desert Chorale celebrates companionship BY SRIANTHI PERERA GetOut Contributor
W
hile weathering a seemingly endless pandemic, many people became more appreciative of the value of companionship. The Sonoran Desert Chorale takes it a step further with a concert on the themes of companionship and journeys. “You Come, Too,” is the title of the Mesa-based chorale’s next performances on Saturday, April 30, at First United Methodist Church in Mesa and on Sunday, May 1 at La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale. “I just feel like I wanted to celebrate this notion of valuing companionship, of valuing that journey, of valuing important people and ideas that sojourn with us,” said Dr. Carric Smolnik, artistic director. The chorus will sing three pieces by Andrew Maxfield, a Utah-based contemporary composer; Whatever Is Foreseen in Joy, The Door, and A Gracious Sabbath
Sonoran Desert Chorale of Mesa is back in full swing post-pandemic and have concerts planned. (Courtesy of Sonoran Desert Chorale) Stood Here. The composer, who will be in attendance, will comment on the songs and share his musical vision on them.
Other songs include O Whistle and I’ll Come To Ye, I’ll Ay Call In By Yon Town, and My Love’s in Germany – a trio of Scot-
tish folk songs; Shaun Kirchner’s I’ll Be On My Way; Felix Mendelssohn’s For God Commanded Angels to Watch Over You; a traditional American folk hymn – The Promised Land; Aaron Copeland’s Zion’s Walls, and songs of finding the way home in Stephen Paulus’ The Road Home and Marta Keen’s Homeward Bound. The concert’s title, You Come, Too, is from a poem called The Pasture by Robert Frost, and the choral will sing its arrangement by American composer Z. Randall Stroope. Smolnik said he also loves the poem’s 1959 version by Randall Thompson, which he studied earlier. “It illustrates how I feel about the people that are closest to me, that even if it’s a short activity, if it’s something trivial, I still both want and value their company,” he said. “I feel that often we talk about these greater causes, about doing things outside ourselves, but the reality of the matter is we, as individuals, have the power to af-
see CHORALE page 19
Mesa team achieves dream amid tragedy BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer
M
att Shott died of cancer in December, but his dream lived on for the Arizona Kachinas, a Mesa-based girls hockey team. The team recently walked away with silver medals from the USA Hockey Youth Girls Tier II National Championships in Pennsylvania for their 14-and-under, 16-and-under, and 19-and-under programs. Program President Lyndsey Fry said the past season has been a “roller coaster” but one that’s sending their girls in the right direction: up the competitive ranks of youth hockey. “Everybody’s in the mindset of honoring Matt,” she said. “We have to keep growing it and building it in the direction
All the Arizona Kachinas programs carried on despite the death of their coach, Matt Shott. (Special to the Tribune) he dreamed it could be.”
The 19-and-under team finished the
tournament losing to Steele City Selects (Pennsylvania) in the championship 1-0 and had the team lead the tournament with a total of 13 points. The 16-and-under team lost to Premier Prep Purple (Minnesota) 3-2 in the championship and lead the tournament with 12 points. The 14-and-under team lost to North Shore Vipers (Massachusetts) 2-1 in the championship and tied for points scored with 12 points. Fry said when she received her silver medal during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, she flashed back to all the people that helped her make it to that point. “That’s what I want to do for someone else,” she said. Now that’s looking to come to fruition
see KACHINA page 20
