Long before Jordan High Choir Director Jaron Putnam ever stood in front of a choir, music was already shaping who he would become.
“One of my first memories of being a human being was singing “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” with my family,” Putnam says. “My dad sang in a barbershop quartet growing up and so my siblings were harmonizing, and I just was surrounded by harmony from a very early age.”
That foundation — music as connection and shared purpose — is what Putnam now works to cultivate in Jordan High’s Madrigals, a group that has grown into one of the state’s most accomplished musical ensembles. Whether performing at local events and spreading holiday cheer throughout the community, or competing on prestigious stages, the Jordan Madrigals are demonstrating how music education can open doors in school, work, and life.
The ensemble has taken home top marks in the Utah high school Shakespeare Festival, and is preparing to compete at the San Diego Heritage Festival, where choirs from across the country are evaluated against national adjudication standards.
But accolades are only part of the story.
In the latest episode of Connect Canyons, Putnam is joined by Madrigal members Katie Barnes, Adam Lindsay, Evelyn Shore, John Hamm, and Titus Tyler who reflect on how being part of the choir has shaped their confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging in the Beetdigger community. Students describe finding their voices — sometimes literally for the first time — while learning how to work as a team and master skills to develop the courage to perform under pressure.
“It’s such a unique way to connect with other people,” says senior Kate Barnes. “When you’re singing all of these harmonies, you get this feeling of joy and excitement, it’s something you can’t really get anywhere else.”
Barnes and her fellow choristers have already had a busy year, complete with bringing home top marks in the national high school Shakespeare competition in October. They competed in the Troubadour category, and their quintet took first place with their number, “Martin Said to His Man.” Jordan also took third place in overall Sweepstakes.
“Being in choir you just build such a good sense of community beyond what you get in the classroom,” says junior Evelyn Shore. “When you’re learning music, you get all of this feedback that you wouldn’t get outside of high school, and it really jumpstarts what you want to pursue after high school.”
A recent study conducted by the American Psychological Association found students who take music courses score significantly better on exams in math and science than their nonmusical peers. Studies have also found music nurtures creativity while building empathy and helping people to better express their emotions and manage anxiety.
“I’ve found choir to be such a relief,” says junior Adam Lindsay, “no matter the stresses going on during school, I can always find relief or that de-stressing in the choir room. Making chords lock, having a great time, the music takes me away from the stresses in life.”
The Madrigals are sharing some of that stress relieving music throughout the holiday season, even performing at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City earlier this month.
“The Temple Square performance is such a cool experience to look forward to,” says junior Evelyn Shore. “All of the music you’ve practiced and rehearsed in class is now being performed in an entirely different space and it just has magic in it. It’s one of my most favorite experiences in our holiday season.”
This spring, the choir will take to the road on a multi-state tour, heading for sunny San Diego as they begin the second half of the school year. Putnam says it’s a trip that helps them grow as a choir and as individuals.
“It’s a remarkable process to see,” he says. “It’s those life lessons that everyone needs to learn to be successful. How to stick with something, how to have discipline, work well with others, take instruction and problem solve. It’s all of these skills that are going to serve our students so well in everything they do.”
