Music Masterworks Series to Feature "The Redeemer"
Published: March 26, 2026 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
The Department of Music at Southern Utah University, in partnership with SoulFill Music Foundation, will present The Redeemer: Music on the Life of Jesus the Christ on April 6 and 7, 2026, featuring the SUU Choirs and SUU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Andrew Briggs. This special collaboration brings nationally recognized artist Jenny Oaks Baker to Cedar City as part of her 2026 spring tour. The concerts will be held in the Heritage Center Theater at 7:00 p.m.
Blending orchestral music, narration, and storytelling, The Redeemer explores moments from the life and legacy of Jesus Christ through a concert format designed to engage with a wide range of audiences. The program will feature a touring ensemble that includes composer Kurt Bestor, tenor and narrator Dallyn Vail Bayles, soprano Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller, bass Preston Yates, and cellist Sarah Noelle Sorhus.
For SUU students, the performance represents more than a concert, as it offers hands-on experience working alongside a professional touring production.
“This project gives our students a unique opportunity to collaborate with a nationally acclaimed artist and professional touring ensemble,” said Dr. Andrew Briggs. “They are not only preparing demanding repertoire, but also experiencing the pace, expectations, and collaborative environment of a touring production. It’s an invaluable step in understanding what it means to perform at a professional level.”
The Cedar City performances are part of a regional tour stop that allows SUU musicians to engage in a model similar to professional touring, including rehearsal integration, production coordination, and performance alongside visiting artists.
The Redeemer is the penultimate installment in SUU’s 2025-26 Music Masterworks Series. Due to the scale and collaborative nature of this production, ticket pricing differs from standard Masterworks events. SUU students, faculty, and staff receive free admission with a valid ID, though seating is limited. Alumni may receive a $10 discount using the promo code ALUMNI10.
Grammy-nominated and Billboard chart-topping violinist Jenny Oaks Baker is widely recognized for her expressive performances and extensive touring career. Her production of The Redeemer has grown in recent years into a multi-city spring tour, presented by the SoulFill Music Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to live music experiences.
The April 6 & 7 performances in Cedar City mark the final stops on the 2026 tour, which has included concerts in Las Vegas, Ephraim, Utah, Salt Lake City, and Nampa, Idaho.
Tickets and additional information are available at JennyOaksBaker.com. For more information about Music at SUU, please visit www.suu.edu/pva/music.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Contact Information
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu