In addition, Beverley saw universities as
important partners in bringing arts education to
children. She and her family have contributed
millions to universities throughout Utah to help
each university build arts integration education
for elementary education majors, as well as
provide stronger in-service training for teachers
in each geographical area. Her contributions
to the BYU McKay School of Education led to
the creation of the Beverley Tailor Sorenson BYU
ARTS Partnership where the University and
five school districts continue to work together
to increase the quality and quantity of arts
education in elementary schools. This program
impacts nearly one third of Utah’s children in
elementary schools.
Beverley Taylor Sorenson
This past year, Utah and BYU lost a great
friend of music education. Beverley Taylor
Sorenson died May 27, 2013 at the age of 89.
For many years, Beverley was a passionate
advocate for quality arts education in Utah
elementary schools. She had a vision that one
day, all children in Utah’s elementary schools
would have music, dance, drama, and visual
arts woven into their daily course work. Her
vision led to the creation of Art Works for Kids
in 1995, an organization designed to support
arts education in elementary schools. This
organization continues to provide grants and
teacher training to encourage quality arts
education for children.
In 2008, after years of active lobbying, Beverley
convinced the Utah State Legislature to
earmark funds especially for arts education in
elementary schools. The State adopted her
arts-focused teaching model and named it the
Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program
in her honor. The legislature continues to
provide support each year for this program.
While the funding is not enough to reach every
elementary school every year, so far, over 100
elementary schools have received state funding.
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BYU SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Last year, before her death, Beverley and her
family’s Legacy Foundation gave BYU School
of Music a grant to support the Family Concert
Series. We are pleased to honor her generous
support to us and to all children in Utah by
naming the series the Beverley Taylor Sorenson
Family Concert Series. Because of Beverley,
we have been able to provide four free family
concerts this year, establish a family music web
site (familyconcerts.byu.edu), and create childfriendly printed materials to encourage families
to make music at home.
Beverley’s own children (she has eight) made
the following statement (printed in her Salt Lake
Tribune obituary May 30, 2013): “We are awed
and inspired by the Christ-like example of our
angel mother and hope to see the seeds that she
planted continue to grow and flourish despite
the changing values of the modern world. Her
beacon of light and love will shine through
eternity.” We in the School of Music feel the
same way about Beverley Taylor Sorenson. We
are pleased to help nurture some of the seeds
she planted by providing this concert series for
families. The BYU School of Music salutes the
memory of this wonderful woman and we hope
to continue her legacy through our Family Music
Series for years to come.
THE STORY OF WILLIAM TELL
William Tell is a folk hero of Switzerland. Legend has it, a wicked ruler named Gessler hung his hat on top of a pole
in the central square of a village named Altdorf. He commanded that
every passerby bow to his hat. One day, William Tell and his young son were visiting the village. They
refused to bow to Gessler’s hat. Gessler was furious. He condemned Tell
and his son to death. However, Gessler heard Tell was a skilled marksman. He offered Tell a
deal. If Tell could shoot an apple off his son’s head in one try, they could
both go free. Tell pulled two arrows from his quiver. He shot the apple from his son’s
head in one try. Gessler asked William Tell about the second arrow. Tell
said that if he had killed his son, the second arrow would have been for
Gessler. Later, there was a revolution. During this revolution, Tell ended up
killing the selfish Gessler and giving the people back their freedom.
Giaccino Rossini decided to
create a musical portrait of the
story of William Tell.
Notice how majestic and
triumphant the music sounds.
MUSICAL PORTRAITS
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