Scottsdale Prep Choir Records Something Special at GCU

For the second year in a row, the chamber choir at Scottsdale Prep had the rare opportunity to record at Grand Canyon University’s state-of-the-art recording studio. It was a trip that choral director and Music Teacher Robin Neely described as “life-changing” for himself and his talented choir students.

“This is my 12th year in this community and my 12th year working with these choirs,” shared Neely. “It is our second year bringing them up here to the GCU recording studio and we’re grateful to be here today.”

For Abigail Guttman, a senior who had just joined the choir at the beginning of the school year, it was an adjustment to not only learn new songs, but then to perform them in a sound booth using headsets. “I’ve never done anything like this before… It’s interesting to get used to all the voices in your ears, because normally we just hear everyone in a circle. So, hearing specific people is interesting, but it’s really nice to be able to bring up people you need to hear more and level them out, because I always have to listen for the altos. So, getting to hear them louder is very helpful.”

This unique experience was made possible through Neely’s connections in the local choir community. “I was privileged to work with the Chandler Children’s Choir back in 2020… and had a connection there that directed me to come talk with Eric here at theGCU recording studio and we were able to find a way to connect, to make it work, and bring all the students in here for recording day.”

Through this generous partnership, GCU not only opens its facilities to Scottsdale Prep free of charge, but also goes above and beyond by transporting students, providing lunch, and handling professional post-production. “They are giving this as a gift to us,” added Neely.

Besides enjoying the experience of performing in a professional recording facility, they get to take a home a memento from the day in the form of fully mixed and produced recordings from the day’s sessions. “These are the recordings that they will carry with them well beyond their high school years,” added Neely. “They will look back on when they sang these songs in high school and have quality recordings to reminisce with, to reconnect with, and to celebrate.”

Senior Samantha Buiones, who started singing in her eighth-grade year, and joined choir in her freshman year, admits that being a member of the Chamber Choir is no easy task, but feels the rewards pay off in the end. “We just have a really supportive community, so it’s not scary or anything to learn new music or just try something different. Even if it might not work. And I think that’s sort of given me the confidence to be able to sing hard songs and sing things that I normally wouldn’t do in any other setting.”

This year’s setlist included a diverse and ambitious range of pieces. “We’re singing, in theory, up to about seven or eight songs including the William Byrd classic I’ve Longed for Thy Saving Health, the Icelandic hymn by Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson, Heyr himna smiður, which everyone knows,” added Neely with a smirk. “A Song of Hope… Ain’t No Mountain High Enough arranged by Jeremy Fox, alongside Beyond the Sea… and we will be finishing our day with our personal favorite, I’ll Be Seeing You by New York Voices, which holds a special place in the hearts of all of our students here today.”

Reflecting on the program as a whole, Neely summed up the experience with gratitude. “It is an absolute privilege to be in a position where we can bring students who want to learn to grow as musicians to come to a place like this, to perform with excellence at such a high level, to build these memories, to build this culture… In many ways, in this community, the work has become the carrot. We all value what we get to do here, and we are gratified by the experience.”

For Neely and the Scottsdale Prep Chamber Choir, many of whom were seniors sharing one of their final experiences together, it was a capstone celebration of music, memories, and community, made all the more special by the generosity of GCU and the dedication of the recording studio staff who helped bring it to life.

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