Highway 89

Sometimes when you hear recordings by Billboard instrumental music chart-toppers like Paul Cardall or The Piano Guys, you're partly hearing the work of our guest today. Shane Mickelsen is a composer, arranger, and coach who works with some of the biggest names in the world of commerical instrumental music and distinguished himself early on by finishing an undergraduate degree in music when he was just 19 years old. Songs featured: Annie Jane, There is a Green Hill Far Away, Music for Piano in D, A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, Sweet Baby Sleep, I Stand All Amazed, The Swing, Musical Excerpts form the Jordan River Temple Youth Celebration, Requiem i, ii, iii, Abide With Me Learn more about him here: https://www.mickelsenmusic.com/ Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

In 2017, a group of undergrads from the University of Utah got together to make music, starting a band and naming it after the first letter of their last names spelling "PANTS." The members of PANTS are woodwind players performing with a clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, and French horn. PANTS is a young ensemble with many of the members still studying at the U as undergrads. However, they are doing great work that often would characterize a more established group: for example, they work with a composer, commissioned pieces, and given those pieces world premiers. They are joined for this episode by composer Darlene Castro.  Songs featured: Three Shanties for Wind Quintet (Arnold), Wind Quintet in G Minor (Taffanel), Pastorale (Beach), Weaving (Castro), Roaring Fork (Ewazen) Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Lyndsey Willis and Russell Wulfenstein have been happily married for years now and happily making music as well. They call themselves the W Duo when they're on stage and together with their band American Train they bring a show to the stage that features original songs, traditional bluegrass tunes, more than 20 instruments, and even some dancing shoes. Their band brings and all-American feel to their music, filling this episode with an upbeat and enjoyable set of tunes.  Songs featured: Oh! Susanna, Half-Priced Wagon, Home, Alley Cat, Down to the Valley, Fighting Through, I've Got You, Foggy Mountain Top, Has Anybody Seen My Girl, Wild Pig, Magnetic North, These Days, Plukke, Young in the Mountains Find out more about them here: https://www.facebook.com/thewduo/ Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89  (Not pictured: Jesse Christopher)

Right after getting a college degree in the rocky mountains, a quick car ride away from the town where she grew up, Wrenne wandered away from home to take a job as a nanny in the UK. She's been there ever since, but she's not nannying anymore. Now, she's got a team of designers, producers, and other creatives supporting her ever-expanding musical ideas. She is currently putting the finishing touches on a stage show that's part music, part trampoline art, part costume, and part dance. The show is called "I Said Yes To Everything" which is perhaps the best description of Wrenne's feelings about making art and living life.  Learn more about her here.  Songs featured: All of Everything, Ready/Brothers Road, Far Away, Dance Song, One More Day, Sorry, Running to Orion, Dandelion, I Do, You Are More, Puzzle Place, So Goes Time Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

This episode brings Clive Romney into the studio with Bob Morphis, Curtis Woodbury, and Nathanael Davenport. Together they call themselves "Willingly," and they perform music based on stories from Utah history for all kinds of audiences, many of them very young. You can find more about the work of these gentlemen and others who share their zeal for Utah history at the Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts website, www.upharts.org.  Learn more about Clive here: http://www.cliveromney.com/ Songs featured: The Old Spanish Trail, Get Us Over This Mountain Lord, Sticky Ta Tudy, Set in Stone, What I See, Use It Up, Don't Let Them Be Forgotten Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Each summer, The Intermezzo Chamber Music Series provides an intimate classical music experience in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Series features superb performers and bold programming interweaving the familiar, the novel, and the obscure. The series features classical favorites, as well as commissioned works by living composers, and other surprises too. Our guest on this episode includes Dr. Vedrana Subotic, Intermezzo series music director and the pianist at the center of the Mozart piano quartet we'll enjoy today. Dr. Subotic is joined by violinist Alex Martin, violinist Carl Johanesen, and cellist Louis-Phillipe Robbilard.  Songs featured: Mozart Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor, Allegro, Mozart Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor, Andante, Mozart Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor, Rondo Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

A story of how we discovered Solomon Reynolds: The setting is an evening celebration for the employees of BYU radio and their friends and family- a kind of talent show. Everyone is having a great time laughing at each other's jokes and enjoying the evening together. Somewhere in the middle oft he program, onto the stage bursts a young guy surrounded by band mates, all on acoustic instruments, performing an original tune that gets the whole crowd cheering. Someone we had worked with every day wound up having a secret identity as a terrific singer. Since then, Highway 89 has had its eye on Solomon Reynolds and we've long wanted to invite him to the show to chat and perform. Songs featured: Emma Dear, I Still, Home and Heart, Everything, Father's Day, For Anna, Social Anxiety, My oh My Find out more about Solomon: https://www.facebook.com/SolomonReynoldsMusic/ Listen to his music: https://soundcloud.com/solomon-reynolds See the video for "Emma Dear": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4aNooE3QOM  Follow Highw

Many people would describe Molly in the Mineshaft as playing "contemporary folk music for contemporary folks." With instruments lining the studio wall to wall, this band played contemporary tunes and a handful of original songs as well, often patterned on folk pieces they've come to love. Their music includes Celtic, folk, blues, bluegrass, and even pop and rock influences. We thouroughly enjoyed hearing them play and engaging in fun conversation including how the name "Molly in the Mineshaft" came to be.  Songs featured: Bill's Reel, Minor/Stranger, Billy Dooley, Fair Maid, Gets Me Through, Raise a Ruckus, Fiddler's Despair, These Words Meant for You, Kolb, All Creatures, The Parting Glass Find more about them here: https://mollyinthemineshaft.com/ Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Highway 89 was happy to welcome Paul Cardall to the show a second time, it being a few years since his last visit to our studio. Cardall's career can be described in terms of accolades and public recognition. He has more that 2 billion lifetime digital streams on one platform or another and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Utah Board of Education. His incredible personal story of battling Congenital Heart Disesase is an inspiration to all and has led him to be a powerful advocate for those suffering from similar challenges. He's touched the personal lives of many with his uplifting and comforting music, with us at Highway 89 being no exception.  Songs featured: Sweet Hour of Prayer, Sacred Nature, Time, One by One ("Eden Za Dugrim"), Eye to Eye, Be Calm, Our Love Find more about him here: https://paulcardall.com/ Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Dr. Joshua Lindsay spent years educating himself as a musician, at Utah State University, the Manhattan School of Music, and Indiana University. After that, he spent years singing in the concert halls of Europe, living in Germany and Austria and racking up more than 500 performances before European audiences. Now, we're happy to welcome him to Brigham Young University, where's he's been for just a few months- although we hope to enjoy many more with Dr. Lindsay. Dr. Lindsay performs Robert Schumann's \_Dichterliebe, \_with CJ Madsen on the piano, and talks about how he got into singing, his experience performing in Europe, and his favorite opera roles to perform. Songs featured: Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

We're excited to have heard some delightful and unusual music on the show. This episode is filled with "hit songs" from the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th century. Before Mozart, Schubert, and Handel, the hitmakers were folks like Antony Holborn, Thomas Campion, and Henry Purcell. You'll hear songs from these folks as well as an incredibily prolific composer of the era- a guy named "Anonymous." Very interesting instruments lined the studio during this recording session and resulted in a fun hour filled with these 13th century "hit songs."  Songs featured: Hollie Berry, Strawberry Leaves/Nutmeg and Ginger, Stella Splendens in Monte, Ecce Novum Gaudium, Robin is to the Greenwood Gone, Daphne, The Honie Suckle, Bele Bonne, Un Cavalier di Spagna, The Jew's Dance, FARMER's Pavane, Blow Thy Horn Hunter, Chaconne for Recorders, If Love's a Sweet Passion, Sing Me A Song, Summer is Icumen In, Jubilate Deo, Schein Gagliarda, Tango Baroquita Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Malialole is a local group based in Salt Lake City with a mission to perpetuate Polynesian cuture through song and dance while promoting cultural awareness of all Pacific island people. They work in schools and perform in community celebrations, presenting tradtional and contemporary Polynesian performances from the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue, New Zealand, Tonga, and Samoa. They hope as they perform, audiences are able to feel the "mana" or positive energy that their music brings. Because this is radio, we aren't able to feature the dancers of Malialole, but are confident listeners will be thrilled to hear this music just the same.  Songs featured: Traditional Polynesian Drumming, Neon Tide (Original), Ei Nei, Te Tiare, Haere Mai, Falling in Eden's Garden (Original), Burn Me (Original), Break My Stride  Find out more about them here: https://www.facebook.com/malialole.utah Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

For such a new group with such young members- all in their twenties- the Tribeca Ensemble has an outstanding list of credentials. Since 2016, the six members of the Tribeca Ensemble have performed together nationally and internationally, at places like the Hermitage Museum, Kasteel Amerongen, and Wanlass Performance Hall. Their performances have been widely acclaimed and they continue to cement themselves as on of the region's premiere chamber groups. Although they are generally billed as a sextet, they perform as quartets, trios, duets, and soloists, filling every concert- including their time on Highway 89- with a unique variety of musical experiences.  Songs featured: Prelude and Fugue for String Quartet Hess 30 (Beethoven), Prelude and Fugue for String Quartet Hess 31 (Beethoven), Appalachia Waltz for Solo Cello (Mark O'Connor), Serenade "Spitzweg" for 2 Violins and Viola op. 25 (Toch), Misirlou for String Quartet (Dale arr. Ebene) Find more about them here: https://www.tribecaensemble.com/ Follow High

Each year choirs from high schools across the Nebo school district compete in an annual choir competition, hoping to win the hearts of the audience and secure their votes as well as the approval of the expert judges. Each year we invite the winning choir to perform on an episode of Highway 89 and the Maple Mountain High School Choir is no exception. Under the direction of Mr. Braden Rymer, the students of this choir joined us for an hour of wonderful choral arrangements.  Songs featured: African Alleluia (Althouse), Lux Aurumque (Whiticre), How Can I Keep From Singing (Helvey), I Got a Home in Dat Rock (Hogan), Sing Me to Heaven (Gawthrop), Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal (arr. Hayes), Musica Animam Tangens (Shank), Down to the River to Pray (arr. Curry), Ride on King Jesus (Hogan) Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Directed by Dick Landerman, the Reunion Band was formed more than fifteen years ago at a church gathering. Made mostly of members of the local congregation, the band's reach has spread over the last decade-and-a-half. It's now made up of musicians young and old from all over the place, and prides itself on being an organization designed to give young players a chance to hone their chops on big band music. This reunion band joined us in the studio with seventeen players, ready to thrill us with just a few of the 300 tunes they know together.  Songs featured: At Last, Angel Eyes, Hot Toddy, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Making Whoopee, Misty, Hallelujah, Orange Colored Sky, Bye Bye Blackbird, Canadian Sunset, Take the A Train, In the Mood, Brasil Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

New Orleans legends Lucien Barbarin (on the trombone) and Greg Stafford (on the trumpet) joined BYU band students for a night exploding with classic New Orleans Jazz. Both musicians ran into the studio just moments after delivering clinics to young music students and their teachers right here in the valley. Although these men are both first and foremost musicians, they are also music educators down to the deepest parts of their souls. This fine group of musicians favored us with jazz numbers from favorites like Louis Armstrong to originals written by Barbarin's own family with pleasant conversation in between.  Songs featured: High Society (Porter Steele), Someday You'll Be Sorry (Louis Armstrong), The Second Line (Paul Barbarin), St. James Infirmary Blues (trad.), Joe Avery's Blues (Joe Avery), When the Saints Go Marching In/Mama Don't Allow Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Acclaimed violinist David Park returns to Highway 89 to celebrate Bach's 333rd birthday, treating us to Bach's Partita No. 1 in its entirety, along with a Bartók fugue. Host Steven Kapp Perry chats with Mr. Park about the importance of Bach's sonata and partita repertoire for violin, and why it seems so appropriate to pair Bach's Partita No. 1 with the Bartók fugue featured in today's episode.  Follow Highway 89 on Instagram: @byuh89 and Twitter: @byuh89

Artem Yasynskyy joins Highway 89 as a guess of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation, an organization that began at Brigham Young Univerisity as a summer piano festival and grew to host piano competitions, festivals, and exchanges. The Foundation has been a friend of Highway 89 for a long time, allowing us to speak and hear some of the world's greatest pianists over the years.  Artem Yasynskyy was born in Ukraine to a family of classical musicians and has spent his life engaged in a study of piano. He has entertained people all over the world and has filled his trophy case with awards from piano competitions across the globe. Yasynskyy joined us on the show to allow us to experience his "complete command" of the instrument and his "sense of security and inner tranquility" as Chopin magazine says.  Songs featured: Partita No. 5 (Bach), Piano Sonata No. 23 (Beethoven), À la Manière de Borodine (Ravel) Follow Highway 89 on Twitter: @byuh89 and Instagram: @byuh89

Every once in awhile, an ensemble that began its life in the halls of a great educational institution spreads its wings and flies beyond the confines of the institution to have a rich life of its own. That's what happened with Cantorum Chamber Choir, which began its life at Brigham Young University, but over time evolved to become one of the premiere non-collegiate vocal ensembles in the Western United States. Cantorum's membership reflects the rich heritage of choral singing in this area. Many of the members are music educators themselves, reflecting the group's goal to inspire the musicians of a new generation.  Cantorum joined us on the show for an hour of marvelous acappella numbers and pleasant conversation.  Songs featured: Dues in Adiutorium Meum Intende (Padilla); Salvator Mundi, from Requiem (Howells); Singet dem Herrn nein Neues Lied (Distler); Soldier's Song (Bernstein); Healing Light (Jenkins); Evening Song (Kodaly); Loch Lomond (arr. Quick); All the Pretty Little Horses (arr. Douma); Jenny Rebe

When a friend of Andrew Nufer, Kim Bjerga, and Clark Holmes asked them to serve dinner to friends while only wearing Speedo swimming suits, the three took the offer. They spent the night singing love songs while waiting on the couple, thus becoming the fresh, upbeat, ukulele-playing band called The Naked Waiters. Since this first gig in Cedar City, Utah this group has performed at everything from weddings and private parties to restaurants and farmers markets. People can't seem to get enough of their terrific harmonies and deft ukulele arrangements of original and cover songs.  The three spend the hour performing covers of fan favorites as well as originals with pleasant conversation in-between numbers about how they met, the origin of their song titles, and their unique style.  Songs featured: Somewhere Over the Rainbow, The Boring Song, LeeLee Bear, I Don't Know My Name, Love Yourself, Good Ol' Days, The Cat Song, I Want to be Your Butterfree, Sunday Morning, Sleepland, La Vie En Rose.  Follow Highway 89