St. Vincent students perform at State Capitol

Intermountain Catholic

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Scott Larabee, handbell director, leads the sixth grade handbell choir in several songs as they accompany the first- and eighth- graders in singing their songs.IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "We are so proud of the work these first, sixth, and eighth grade students have put into the music we are going to hear," said Governor Jon M. Huntsman at the Re-dedication of the State Capitol Building Jan. 7. "We are honored historically to have an opening like this. It is the first time since this building was built in 1917. Thank you."

"I am happy to introduce our students who will perform several numbers, including "This is Utah," an original composition written especially for the opening and Re-dedication of the Utah State Capitol Building, said Mark Longe, St. Vincent principal. "The music and lyrics were written by Jolene Clarke, a Utah composer and music educator, who is also with the Utah Opera, and Jeanne Pence, our first grade teacher."

Clarke said she wrote the music to the song in 18 hours, and Pence helped her write the lyrics. They have been rehearsing with the students since November. The students have been on Christmas break and only had one rehearsal before they boarded the bus for the Capitol.

"It was really special to have the students perform it in the Capitol," said Clarke. "As we were driving up State Street, the students were saying, ‘It’s the White House.’"

During the program, eighth-graders Rachel Benvegnu and McKenna Heugly spoke of Utah’s many recreational areas and the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Utah.