All photos courtesy Kimber Larsen Haws
The Central Saints Chorus, an interfaith choir and orchestra in Oklahoma, held two free concerts over the weekend for victims of the May tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma. (See a news release about the Church’s relief efforts in Moore.)
The concerts’ theme was finding hope after loss, using the story of the Mormon pioneers’ journey to the Salt Lake Valley in the 1840s as a backdrop. Choir director and Latter-day Saint Zach Tanner told The Moore American that the choir chose the Mormon pioneer story because it’s about “a people who managed to find hope after everything was taken from them. They are forced to leave everything behind and build new lives, with just their faith to rely on.”
Choir member Bryce Gorrell told the American that the story of loss and sacrifice is one that these tornado survivors share. “We’ve all experienced loss of some kind,” Gorrell said. “There is life after loss. God doesn’t always prevent bad things from happening, but He’s with us as they happen.”
Close to 1,000 people attended the hour-long concerts, which were held Saturday and Sunday at Latter-day Saint chapels in Moore. Concert organizers invited attendees to donate to charities of their choice dedicated to helping tornado victims.
See additional photos below.
(Above and below) Attendees enjoy the Sunday evening concert.
Many of the choir and orchestra members volunteered with Latter-day Saint Helping Hands to clean up debris following the May tornadoes in central Oklahoma. (See a photo essay of the tornado cleanup.)
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