Young Ambassadors

The Young Ambassadors are a song and dance performing group from Brigham Young University (BYU). Consisting of 20 performers, 10 male and 10 female, they were founded by Janie Thompson in 1969. Since their first international performance at the 1970 World Fair in Osaka, Japan, they have performed in over 68 countries.

History

Ernest L. Wilkinson, then president of BYU, asked Janie Thompson, who had just returned from a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), to found the Program Bureau in 1952. She accepted Wilkinson's request, though she had to reject an offer from the Ike Carpenter band. BYU was invited to send a group to represent the United States at the 1970 World Fair in Osaka, Japan.[1][2] Assisted by Harry Schultz, Thompson had created a performing group in 1969 called the Brigham Young Ambassadors. "Brigham" was dropped from the name in 1970 and the group became known as Young Ambassadors.[3][4] Randy Boothe, the current director of the group, was recruited for the show. The audience received the group well and the Young Ambassadors continued to receive invitations to perform in front of international audiences.[2] Before a tour, group members study the language and culture of the countries they tour so they can better interact with the people in the country.[4]

Since their first international performance at world exposition 1970 in Osaka, Japan, they have performed their musical variety show throughout the United States and over 68 other nations.[5][6] Their audiences have included the prime minister of India, the queen of Thailand, and the king and queen of Jordan.[7][8] Live and televised appearances in major concert halls and impromptu performances in hospitals, orphanages, town squares and government palaces reach millions of people each year.[5]

The Young Ambassadors company consists of 20 performers (10 men and 10 women), a 10 piece show band (keyboard, drums, guitar and bass guitar, etc.) and technical personnel.[9][10][5] The Young Ambassadors have been directed by Randy Boothe since 1978.[4]

Impact

The Young Ambassadors were the first organized group to represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) or BYU in the Soviet Union.[11]

In a 1991 speech at BYU, Dallin H. Oaks discussed how the Young Ambassadors overcame the challenges of trying to perform in China in 1978. The challenges were due to the lack of diplomatic relations between China and the United States at the time and the fact that United States tourists were not welcome there. Oaks related the 1978 tour and subsequent tours of the Young Ambassadors to China as contributive to missionary work of LDS Church in China and around the world.[12] Chinese nobility were impressed by the Young Ambassadors, and continued to let them perform in China, even when visits from other performing groups were cancelled.[13] Along with Oaks, French scholar Pierre Vendassi agreed that the performances of the Young Ambassadors in Beijing and other Chinese cities helped establish a relationship between China and the LDS Church.[14]

Past members

Directors

Harry Schultz , Director 1970 - 1974

  • Randy Boothe, Artistic Director[20]
  • Eric Hansen, Band Director[21]
  • Ron Simpson, Associate Director (retired)[22]
  • Janielle Christensen, Assistant Artistic Director[23]
  • John Shurtleff, Technical Director[23]

Tour history

This tour history beings in 1970 and continues up to present day.[24]

Recordings

Albums

Information retrieved from BYU Music Store.[26]

  • Tapestry: Weaving the Colors of Life (1993)
  • Of One Heart (1995)
  • The Neighborhood (1997)
  • Come Unto Him: A Young Ambassadors Fireside Devotional (1999)
  • Curtain Time (2000)
  • Broadway Rhythm (2002)
  • The Lord is My Light (2003)
  • Circle of Life (2005)
  • The New American Songbook (2008)
  • Harmony: The Music of Life (2012)
  • Heartsongs: Melodies of Love (2014)
  • Welcome Home (2018)

Singles

Information retrieved from Apple Music.[27]

  • Chicago Medley (2017)
  • Yorktown: The World Turned Upside Down (2017)
  • My Heavenly Father Loves Me (2016)
  • Thinking Out Loud (2016)
  • What Christmas Means to Me (2014)

Videos
  • Let it Ring (1987) on VHS[28]
  • Heartsongs: Melodies of Love (2014) on DVD[29]

References
  1. Penrod, Emma (June 5, 2013). "Janie Thompson, legendary BYU Young Ambassadors founder, dies at 91". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  2. Penrod, Emma (June 8, 2013). "BYU Legend Janie Thompson launched careers, touched lives as founder of Young Ambassadors, Lamanite Generation". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  3. Wilkinson, Ernest L/; Arrington, Leonard J., eds. (1976). Brigham Young University. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press. p. 644. ISBN 0842507086. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  4. Haddock, Sharon (January 10, 2008). "Young Ambassadors to showcase some old hits". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  5. Boothe, Randy. "Auditions". Young Ambassadors. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  6. "Guideline". Campus Crier. Central Washington University. April 9, 1981. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  7. "Young Ambassadors". Performing Arts Management. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  8. "About Us". Young Ambassadors. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  9. Davies, Taylor (January 14, 2014). "Head Over Heels: Young Ambassadors explore the different faces of love in new show". The Daily Universe. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  10. Hobbs, Cassidee (August 12, 2015). "Young Ambassadors' intense audition process brings talent to the top". The Daily Universe. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  11. Oaks, Dallin H. "Where Much is Given" (PDF). BYU Speeches. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  12. Oaks, Dallin H. "Getting to Know China" (PDF). BYU Speeches. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  13. Terry, Thomas H. (1995). "Interest group influence on sex education policy in Utah: A cultural perspective". UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations: 59. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  14. Vendassi, Pierre (2014). "Le mormonisme et l'État chinois". Perspectives Chinoises: 48. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  15. "Young Ambassadors to present "Harmony: the Music of Life" Feb. 13-16". Department of Dance. Brigham Young University. February 11, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  16. Rogers, Brittany Karford (Spring 2018). "Since Napoleon". BYU Magazine. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  17. "BYU Young Ambassadors Celebrate". Studio 5. KSL. February 8, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  18. Robinson, Doug (December 1, 2013). "Utahn hits the big time on Broadway". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  19. Hardy, Rodger L. (October 18, 2007). "'Passage to Zarahemla' actress says she gained strength at BYU". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  20. "Randy Boothe". Young Ambassadors. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  21. "Eric Hansen". Young Ambassadors. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  22. Barlow, Katie (June 2, 2011). "Young Ambassadors associate director retiring after 27 years". KSL. KSL Broadcasting. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  23. "Directors". Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  24. "Tour History 2017-18 Season" (PDF). Young Ambassadors. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  25. "The BYU Young Ambassadors Highlight the Importance of Family in 2019 Show". BYU Arts. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  26. "BYU Young Ambassadors". BYU Music Store. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  27. "BYU Young Ambassadors - Singles & EPs". Apple Music. Apple. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  28. "Intellectual Property Office video collection, 1947-2005". Church History Library. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  29. "Heartsongs:Melodies of Love [DVD] - BYU Young Ambassadors". BYU Music Store. Brigham Young University. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
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