The Utah Chamber Artists is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season.
"It's quite a milestone and quite an accomplishment," said UCA spokesperson Crystal Young-Otterstrom.
A sure sign that a community performing arts group has been around a long time is when offspring of original members are now in the group. That's something several local ensembles can boast of, including UCA.
"We have several children of former members singing in the choir, including co-founder Jim Sorenson's two daughters," Young-Otterstrom said. "And we still have somewhere around 10 or 15 people who have been with us since the beginning. This shows the dedication everbody has."
The concerts this season have tried to tie in to the group's early years. That's certainly true for the ensemble's Christmas concert on Monday.
"One of the works on the program is Poulenc's 'O Magnum Mysterium, which was on the Chamber Artists' first Christmas concert," Young-Otterstrom said.
Music director and co-founder Barlow Bradford's own works and arrangements of holiday music have been a staple of these concerts from the start and there will be a few arrangements at Monday's concert as well. "These have proven to be very popular with audiences, and there will be several performed at the concert."
Looking back over the last two decades there have been several highlights, Young-Otterstrom said. "The tours to France and Israel are major milestones, and also the three CDs that the Chamber Artists have released so far."
But Bradford and the ensemble aren't content just with enjoying their past accomplishments. They have big plans for the future.
"Next season, our theme will be 'The Next 20 Years,'" Young-Otterstrom said, and there are some large projects in the works. "We're working on doing a professionally recorded project, something that we want to do annually." There are also plans on changing the group's status. "There is a move to become a professional choir, and that would make the Utah Chamber Artists the first professional choir in Utah."
The group also wants to increase its recognition outside the Beehive State. "We have a unique sound that sets us apart from other choirs. We're locally known, but we want to build our national voice. It's important that we do that."
Here is a listing of the Utah Chamber Artists' remaining concerts for the 2010-11 season. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and take place in Libby Gardner Concert Hall. Tickets are available by phone at 801-581-7100 or online at utahchamberartists.org.
Feb. 28, "Mozart and Bernstein: The Long and the Short of It;" Mozart, Requiem and "Laudate Dominum;" Bernstein "Chichester Psalms" and "Glitter and Be Gay" from "Candide;" with guest Celena Shafer, soprano.
May 2, "Beverley Taylor Sorenson Young Artist Concert": program TBA; with guest Richard Marshall, piano.
If you go...
What: "Christmas with the Utah Chamber Artists"
Where: Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah
When: Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $15 general admission, $10 students, $50 family pass (up to six family members); children under 7 not admitted
Phone: 801-581-7100
e-mail: ereichel@desnews.com