Utah Tech Live has partnered with the University Orchestra for several years to produce the annual Christmas concert. The collaboration brings professional musicians to campus to perform alongside students, creating opportunities for student musicians to work directly with touring professionals.
This year’s program featured Mat and Savanna Shaw, the father-daughter duo who gained national recognition when a video of them singing “The Prayer” from their living room went viral in March 2020. Since then, the Shaws have built a professional career with recording contracts, national tours and performances across the country. Their repertoire spans classical crossover, Broadway standards and inspirational music.
“Mat and Savanna Shaw are so talented and were so wonderful to work with as our guest artists for the University Orchestra Christmas Concert,” Dr. Paul Abegg, director of the University Orchestra, said. “It was evident they have a following and are loved by their fans. The message of their music was so positive and inspiring. Their performance added so much to our concert. Good music inspires, unifies and heals and their performance achieved that and more. What a great experience for myself and our UT students to share the stage with these professionals.”
The concert drew enthusiastic reviews from attendees. One community member wrote: “We always enjoy the University Orchestra Christmas program, but last night was THE BEST ever. I was really looking forward to seeing the Shaw’s in person and they did not disappoint. I saw their first ever post of The Prayer on Facebook back in 2020. She was just a kid and dad had on a t shirt. They’re so polished now and better than ever. The University Orchestra was excellent as well.”
Benjamin Tyrrel, director of arts programming at Utah Tech, coordinates these partnerships between Utah Tech Live and university arts programs.
“Producing the Christmas program each year is something I look forward to,” Tyrrel said. “It has become a strong tradition for the College of the Arts. We look for artists who challenge our students and bring value to our audiences. Mat and Savanna were outstanding partners.”
Tyrrel emphasized the dual benefit of these collaborations.
“Students gain experience on real stages with real professionals, and our community gets to share in that growth,” he said.
Utah Tech Live is currently operating with adjusted programming while the America First Performing Arts Center undergoes construction. The venue is scheduled to reopen in 2026, when Utah Tech Live will launch a full season for 2026-27.
Based on the continued success of the Christmas concert partnership, Utah Tech Live and the University Orchestra are committed to maintaining this annual tradition as part of the university’s focus on active learning and professional development for music students.
Utah Tech Live, formerly the Celebrity Concert Series, is a 65+ year Southern Utah tradition with a mission of bringing world-class musicians to Southern Utah. The series brings approximately 15,000 community patrons to campus annually and partners with university arts programs to create educational opportunities for students while providing quality entertainment for the community.