Every year, Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society finds ways to make their annual October concert of show tunes and movie music different and more memorable than the last. This year’s production, “Seize the Day,” focuses on music of the silver screen with a variety of new songs and unique arrangements of well-known pieces. Costumed characters from Disney films and the Star Wars franchise will once again perform and interact with the audience before and after the concert.

Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society will present “Seize the Day,” celebrating the music of the silver screen on Oct. 17 and 18. (Photo courtesy of Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society)

“If you love movie music, this concert will knock your socks off!” music director and conductor Sherri Jensen declared. 

A highlight of the program will be an orchestral tribute to the musical legacy of composer John Williams. Excerpts from the movies “Jaws,” “Indiana Jones,” “Superman,” “Jurassic Park” and “Star Wars: Episode IV” will be shown to the live accompaniment of Draper Philharmonic performing the iconic scores.

Music from movie musicals and Disney classics comprise the rest of the program. Jensen took the concert’s title, “Seize the Day” from “Newsies.” “It just felt like a really great proclamation, a good, positive declaration,” she said. 

Songs from “Newsies,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Cinderella,” “Aladdin,” “Prince of Egypt,” “Annie,” and others will be performed by costumed soloists in addition to the orchestra and choir.

Marsali Hancock, concert master and first chair violin, explained that Draper Philharmonic commissioned new arrangements of songs such as “Arabian Nights” from “Aladdin.” “Different arrangements allow for a different presentation,” she said. “The orchestration allows for a different approach to the singing.” 

Soloists and the entire company of Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society took a bow at last year’s musical celebration of Broadway and movie music. (Photo courtesy of Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society)

The new arrangements of “Arabian Nights” and “Prince Ali” will be sung by soloist Mike Handy, reprising his role as the genie from last year. Handy, who has professional skills in costuming and makeup, detailed the effort that goes into his transformation. “This year I used liquid makeup applied with an air brush,” he said. It takes a bald cap, prosthetic pointed ears and a lot of blue makeup in addition to the costume to bring the genie to life.

Handy is a member and founder of Utah Screen Stars, a group of volunteers who dress up as costumed characters to appear at charity events and children’s hospitals. Members of the group will be at the concert portraying characters from animated Disney films, “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones.” “The audience will be able to do meet and greets with the characters before the concert, during intermission and afterwards,” he said. “This year is going to be bigger than the last. It will be kind of like going to Disneyland.” 

Singing the music of Disney and Broadway is a joy for many members of the Choral Society. Second tenor Steve Morrison, who joined Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society last January, talked about a couple of his favorite pieces from the concert. “‘Deliver Us’ from ‘Prince of Egypt’ is a fun song,” he said. “It has lots of moving parts.” The song “Masquerade” from “Phantom of the Opera” is also a highlight for Morrison. “I’ve enjoyed that song for a long time,” he added.

Soloist Mike Handy performed as the Genie from “Aladdin” in Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society’s musical celebration of Broadway and movie music in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society)

“We’re a very high quality choir and philharmonic,” Morrison said. “It makes you want to rise, shout and sing with everyone.”

Hancock also shared how much she loves playing with Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society. “It’s about community coming together and performing for the people we care about the most—our friends, family and neighbors,” she said. 

Founder and artistic director Sherri Jensen voiced her appreciation of the community for their ongoing support. “Last year, we reached out to the community and people really stepped up,” she said. She is already looking ahead to the next concert which will be “King of Kings,” presented Dec. 19 and 20 at Skyridge High School. 

Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society’s “Seize the Day: Music from Broadway and the Silver Screen” will be presented Oct. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. at Corner Canyon High School. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit draperphilharmonic.org.