Composer shares her love of music with the community

FARMINGTON -- Dressed in a black skirt and white blouse pinned with a red corsage, Ruth Gatrell opened her music and signaled the Ruth Gatrell Singers to begin singing.

The songs may not be familiar to many people because she most often chooses her original music for her singers. Composing music comes naturally to Gatrell as does playing the piano. When she was just 3, Gatrell would sit beside her sister on the piano bench to watch her practice.

"I knew exactly where the notes were, so I told my mother. She said, 'I guess we had better get you lessons,'" explained Gatrell. She's been playing ever since.

Gatrell played at a primary conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when she was just 5; she was an accomplished violinist at 7.

"I was 11 when I first played professionally at Hotel Newhouse," she said.

As a teen she did a lot of solo work and even played with the Youth Orchestra on Saturday mornings, as well as playing for "The Children's Hour" on the radio. She was a concert mistress for the University of Utah orchestra, and when she got married, she traveled around the country and the world presenting music in various ways and places. But it was while stationed in Alaska with her husband that she composed her first music. That was about the time her fifth child was born.

While living in Colorado Springs, she wrote her first cantata about the Book of Mormon.

Her family moved back to Farmington when her husband was in Korea. He retired after 31 years in the service and worked for the department of health for 25 years.

Gatrell became a member of the Utah Composer's Guild, which was created in 1963. When the president of the Guild was in an accident, Gatrell was asked to take over, about 18 years ago.

In the position of president one of her responsibilities is to organize classes for those who want to learn to compose their own music.

In the early 1980s Gatrell wrote music for an LDS Stake Relief Society program.

"Then several people wanted to start singing together," Gatrell said, and that was when the Ruth Gatrell Singers were organized. Marilyn King was in the early group.

"Her music is absolutely beautiful," said King, speaking of Gatrell. "She puts a lot of work into it."

Both King and Sharon McMullin spoke of the amount of time Gatrell puts into her music and into helping the community learn more about the arts.

"She is so generous with her time," said McMullin. "She has really promoted the arts and helped young people who have the talent develop their talent."

McMullin is surprised that Gatrell began creating music by writing it by hand and has so readily turned to new technology to compose now. She uses a computer to help with her work.

"It is amazing how she has learned to use modern technology," McMullin said.

King said Gatrell opens her home for rehearsals, holding a rehearsal on Wednesday evenings for those who work and on Thursday mornings for those who don't.

"She has a library of printed music and she is always trying different arrangements in church music," King said.

"My favorite thing is to sing in assisted living centers and rest homes. It brings sunshine into their lives," McMullin said.

Gatrell also has her singers perform free concerts throughout the year for the community. The Ruth Gatrell Singers come from her hometown of Farmington and from Centerville, Bountiful, Layton, Kaysville, Draper and Alpine, but according to Gatrell they all have ties to Farmington.

They perform a concert in January, a composer's concert in June and an Americana concert in July as well as a Christmas concert in December. The singers also perform at other local functions, including the Joseph Smith Building and Temple Square in Salt Lake City at Christmastime.

This was the 17th year for the Composer's Concert, which began in Woodland Park and moved to the Farmington Community Arts Center.

Gatrell said it was a lot of fun to perform at the park, but at the community center they can take advantage of the piano.

"There is great musical talent here in Farmington," Gatrell said.

"She organizes classes for composers and gives tips to encourage them," said King. And all that Gatrell does with music is volunteer service.

Several years ago she wrote the musical, "My Farmington," which was staged at Woodland Park, said King.

Natalie Wesche, who teaches voice lessons and is also a member of the Ruth Gatrell Singers, said she first heard Gatrell's music at an LDS Fireside.

"I love her music -- it is so inspiring I want to own every piece," Wesche said.

Carolyn Parrish started singing with the group before she became an accompanist.

"I started singing with the group around 2000," Parrish said.

Parrish was amazed when she first entered Gatrell's home and saw all of the equipment for recording and publishing.

"She is one gifted composer and writer. She writes her own lyrics," said Parrish. Although she and Tauna Homer are accompanists, Parrish said, "Singing with the group has the most effect on me."

She told of Gatrell singing parts when someone isn't there, while still leading the singers.

"She has two pianos in her home. While the accompanist plays, she would use the other piano to punch out the parts," Parrish said.

Gatrell also recorded music on tapes for the choir to take home to practice.

"It was so we would all know our parts and could sing with confidence," said Parrish.

Gatrell has a wonderful memory too, said Parrish. When she organizes a composers' concert she memorizes the names of all of the participants.

Because she is one of those who play the piano for the singers, Parrish has purchased a lot of Gatrell's music, which Gatrell has published and sells from her home.

Gatrell has also won awards for her compositions. Among her honors was a first place in the 1977-78 Relief Society song contest with her song "Love Grows as We Serve One Another." In 1988 she received an honorable mention for one of her songs. And in August 1997, her song "I like to Listen to the Prophet" was published in Friend, a magazine published for children by the LDS Church.

"She is just an amazing person to me," Parrish said. And McMullin said, "I just love her, she is a wonderful lady."

Ruth Gatrell Singers will host a concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Farmington Community Arts Center.

The Composers Guild will hold a concert, "New Sounds for Christmas," on Dec. 12 and the Composers Guild Spectacular will be Jan. 30. Both will begin at 7:30 at the Salt Lake 10th Ward Cultural Hall, 420 S. 800 East, Salt Lake City.