Students from four Cache County high schools had the chance to perform at the Daines Concert Hall with the American Festival Chorus on Tuesday night.

As the five choirs took the stage, Caine College of the Arts Dean Craig Jessop addressed the crowd.

“This huge choir didn’t exist three hours ago,” Jessop told the audience.

Jessop and Cory Evans, Director of Choral Activities, met with the students before the concert for a workshop in preparation for the performance.

“There’s not much to work on, because they are phenomenal, phenomenal singers,” Evans said.

“Whenever I go and do clinics around the country, I’m assured the future is in good hands, if they’ll just turn it over to the choral students of America,” Jessop said.

The concert was Green Canyon choir director Karen Teuscher’s idea.

“We are so grateful for the American Festival Chorus for spending the evening with us,” Tuescher said.

Teuscher said she wants to encourage choral students to pursue music after they graduate from high school.

“We really wanted to increase the connection between our high school kids, the university and the American Festival Chorus,” Teuscher said.

The concert and workshop helped to show students what continuing in music might look like.

“They gave such good training,” Tuescher said of Evans and Jessop. “It was a really positive experience for everybody.”

In addition to the learning aspect of the performance, Tuescher said the experience was just plain fun. The students performed two resounding worship songs with the American Festival Chorus: “Let Everything That Hath Breath” and a unique arrangement of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Four students had the opportunity to sing solos backed by the five choruses.

“It feels good to sing with people who love what you love,” Tuescher said.

Jessop commended the choir teachers who made the evening possible: Tuescher with Green Canyon, Jordan Keith with Sky View, Jeremy Baer with Ridgeline and DonNel Lamb with Mountain Crest.

“Choral music is alive and well in Cache Valley because of these four people,” Jessop said.

Lizzy Swink, a senior at Ridgeline High School, said she enjoyed performing with new people.

“It was almost magical,” Swink said.

Swink said the experience made her consider continuing to sing after she graduates.

“I thought, ‘Man, I love being on stage,’” Swink said. “I could totally pursue this.”

Evans took a moment to tell parents and students about the opportunities for chorus students at Utah State University, including being a part of the American Festival Chorus. He encouraged students to keep singing regardless of where they go.

“No matter where you end up going, please continue to sing and have that be a part of your lives,” Evans told the students.