Music and Fundraising: All in A Little Night Music

Thom Vaughn performs on stage, with Kristine Hansen accompanying on piano.

Chelsea Kennedy and Ruth Pratt Davis wait in the audience before taking the stage during the first night’s performance.

Payson’s Banquet Hall came alive with song last month, as over thirty vocalists and pianists performed as part of the fifth annual Lions Club fundraising concert, A Little Night Music. Music entertained crowds for two nights, with vocalists rendering impressive performances of songs that ranged from opera and light opera to movie and Broadway showtunes.

Part of Lions Clubs International, the Payson Lions Club is a longstanding community tradition, having received its charter here ninety-one years ago.

Funds raised from A Little Night Music, itself a fast-growing community tradition, benefit local charities sustained by the Payson Lions Club.

The musicians’ shared talents benefit all who have the good fortune of listening to them perform.

The 2015 Payson Lions Club “A Little Night Music” Performers:

VOCALISTS

Natalie Ball. Natalie was born in Payson and is a member of the Payson Civic Chorale.  She grew up in a musical family and enjoys singing lullabies to her children.

Rebecca Black. Rebecca has been singing her whole life.  Currently, she sings with the Utah Valley Children’s Choir and the Millennial Choir and Orchestra.

Hannah Colby. Hannah sings in a choir and has performed in the production of Joseph.

Craig Gardner. Craig started singing seriously (and not so seriously) at the age of sixteen.  He has led musical groups, been in numerous theatrical performances, and sings as a featured soloist.

Sharie Cowie. Sharie is a Vocal Performance major.  She has performed in Sister Angelica, South Pacific, and Joseph.

Landon Nilsson. Landon sings with the UVU Chamber Choir.  He comes from a family that loves music and singing.

Mariah Webber. Mariah has performed in many plays, including The Wizard of Oz, Xanadu, and Into the Woods.  She also sings in her school choir.

Chris Jensen. Chris sings with the Payson Civic Chorale and has been in many performances with Payson Community Theatre (PCT), including last year’s Les Miserables, and the Nephi Hand Cart Pageant since 1988.

Kristen Harmon. Kristen has been singing her entire life.  Currently she sings with the Primary children in her LDS ward as she serves as Primary Chorister.

Conor Osborn. Conor loves to sing.  He is currently in the show choir at his school and sings as a soloist.

Ryan Peck. Ryan has spent many years performing in community theater.  PCT is among those with which he has performed.

Chantelle Wells. Chantelle has been in many PCT productions.  She is an actor, a choreographer, and an instructor at the Egyptian Theater.

Ruth Pratt Davis. Ruth is a Music Minor at BYU.  She has been a music teacher.  She sings with the Cameo Club Sr. Utah.

Earl Taylor. Earl was born and raised in Spanish Fork, and raised his family in Payson.  He has an amazing voice and says, “I sing when asked.”

Matthew Webber. Matthew performed in the 2014 A Little Night Music.  The Lions Club is delighted to have had him back.  He sang in the Trouveres at Payson High.  He was in the All-State Choir 2013-2014.  He played the role of Bernardo in West Side Story and has been in many other productions.

Kaitlyn Kingston. Kaitlyn was back with the Lions for the second time.  She is very young and her voice knocked the socks off the judges.  She has been singing since she was four years old and loves to perform.  She also loves drawing pictures.

Perry and Carisa Ewell. Perry and Carisa are well known in Payson for their many talents.  The apple did not fall far from the tree.  Their daughter, Emma, and son Jesse also performed during the 2015 A Little Night Music concert.

Chelsea Kennedy. Chelsea is married to Thayne Kennedy and they have two beautiful children.  She loves to sing anytime she gets the chance, and she loves musicals.

Emma Ewell. Emma is the daughter of Perry and Carisa Ewell.  Emma loves to sing and folks loved her rendition of “Someone Like You.”

Dora Edvalson. Dora loves to sing.  She las lived in Payson for forty-two years and the Lions Club was very happy happy to have her singing in their program this year.

Devyn Olson. Devyn is in the seventh grade.  She has performed in plays and has taken voice lessons.

Adalyn Coon. This was Adalyn’s first time performing in A Little Night Music, however, she’s no stranger to singing, and she has performed with multiple choirs.

Jade McMullin. Jade is in the seventh grade.  She loves to sing and takes private voice lessons.  She also plays the piano.

Thomas Petrucka. Thomas is currently attending American Leadership Academy (ALA).  He loves musical theater.

Lisa Havens. Lisa is a vocal and conducting student of Dr. Reed Criddle.  She has lived in Payson since 1999.

Thom Vaughn. Thom has performed in many plays and has been a soloist.  He has also sung in solos at church.

Vietta Durfee. Vietta has had musical, chorale, and opera experience, since age fourteen.  She has performed with the Utah Opera Company and is a member of the Utah Oratorio Society.  She has taught voice lessons for twenty-four years.

Jamie Finch. Jamie loves to sing and has been doing it since she was very young.  She graduated from Payson High School and is currently enrolled at Utah State University.

Catherine Havens. Catherine was a finalist in the NATS Musical Theater Contest in 2012.  She had the lead in the PHS production of Twelve Dancing Princesses in 2013.  She was a soloist in the PHS production of West Side Story in 2014.

ACCOMPANISTS

Laura Ross, Janine Nilsson, Sherry Christensen, Noelle Conder, Carey Heaton, Tammy Durrant, Patsy Nelson, Kristine Hansen, and Brenda Palois