The BYU-Idaho Department of Music welcomed generations of former choir members back to Barrus Concert Hall on Saturday, June 27, for the Alumni Reunion Concert. The evening featured performances by the University Band, Concert Choir and Vocal Union before alumni returned to the stage to celebrate the university's rich choral tradition. Through patriotic songs, hymns and contemporary pieces, the concert honored both the history of the music program and the lasting connections formed through it.

The event brought together alumni from across the country, giving them the opportunity to perform together once again and reconnect with friends they had not seen in years. While the music was the centerpiece of the evening, many said the reunion itself was just as meaningful.

For Kara Masters, who graduated from BYU-Idaho in 1997, returning to Barrus Concert Hall brought back memories almost immediately.

"It was a little surreal," Masters said. "I walked in and immediately remembered where I used to sit during rehearsals and concerts. It brought back a lot of really happy memories."

Masters said returning to perform reminded her of the friendships and experiences that made choir one of the most meaningful parts of her college years.

"I remembered spending hours rehearsing, joking around with friends before practice and the excitement before performances," she said. "It reminded me how close we all became through music."

Several songs performed during the concert brought back memories, especially the hymns.

"The hymns definitely did," she said. "Those were always some of my favorite pieces because they weren't just beautiful to sing. They carried a lot of meaning. Hearing them again took me right back to being a student."

The concert program included selections such as America the Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Amazing Grace, Faith in Every Footstep and And So It Goes. Alumni joined current performers in celebrating the traditions that have shaped generations of musicians at BYU-Idaho.

For Mary Hill, who graduated in 1991, one of the most meaningful parts of the reunion was reconnecting with former choir members.

"It's been such a joy," Hill said. "You may not have seen someone in twenty or thirty years, but once you're together again, it's amazing how quickly those friendships come back."

Hill said singing together again felt natural despite the years that had passed.

"It felt surprisingly familiar," she said. "Our voices have changed a little over the years, but the feeling of making music together came right back."

She believes music has a unique ability to create lasting relationships.

"Music creates memories in a way that very few things can," Hill said. "When you sing together, you're sharing something emotional, and those experiences stay with you for the rest of your life."

The reunion reflected the message shared in the concert program's directors' note, which described the BYU-Idaho choir program as one great family connected by a love of music, the university and the gospel. Throughout the evening, alumni greeted old friends, shared stories from their college years and celebrated the legacy of those who helped build the program over the decades.

For Hill, those friendships were what made the evening unforgettable.

"The people, without question," she said. "The music has been beautiful, but seeing old friends, sharing stories and remembering those years together has been the greatest gift."

As the final applause filled Barrus Concert Hall, the Alumni Reunion Concert celebrated more than an evening of music. It honored the generations of singers who have been part of the BYU-Idaho choir program and showed how the friendships, memories and lessons formed through music continue long after graduation.