Focus Hawaii Merrilee Webb

Authors

• Merrilee Webb

Files

Description

This episode of Focus Hawaii features Merrilee Webb, choral director at BYU–Hawaii, who shares her passion for “building singers” by bringing together students with no musical background and those with extensive experience to create powerful choral unity. She reflects on her early connection to Hawaiʻi as a young missionary, describing the emotional moment of leaving the islands and how that feeling inspired a song she wrote celebrating the idea that “Hawaiʻi never leaves you.” Webb discusses the unique makeup of the university’s choirs—including students from around the world, many of whom speak English as a second language—and the challenge and joy of shaping a unified vocal sound across diverse cultures. She also describes the fast‑paced spring chorale, the mix of ages and backgrounds among its members, and the transformative magic of creating music together. The episode highlights her long‑standing friendship with a fellow musician, their shared performances, and her deep gratitude for the opportunity to teach students from nations that may be in conflict, yet who sit side by side singing in harmony.

Length of Video

00:27:17

File Size

2.3GB

Archives Call Number

22.FH

Air Date

7-11-2003

Keywords

Merrilee Webb, BYU–Hawaii choir director, Focus Hawaii, choral music, global choir, multicultural choir, Hawaii mission memories, Hawaii never leaves you, ukulele song, spring chorale, international students, music education, vocal unity, cultural harmony, diverse choir ensemble

Disciplines

Music

Recommended Citation

Webb, Merrilee, "Focus Hawaii Merrilee Webb" (2003). Focus Hawaii. 128.
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/focushawaii/128