"Ha'a mai na kama me ka makua," conductor Merrilee Webb chanted.

The English translation: "Dance forward you children of your Heavenly Father ... "

Webb and We Also Sing!, a choir made up of 364 women, were rehearsing for their concerts Saturday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake Tabernacle as part of the Temple Square Concert Series.



The melodic Hawaiian chant was written by Cy Bridges to celebrate the 150th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Hawaiian Islands.

"(People) can expect a fantastic evening of music," said Marilyn Lorensen, program director of Temple Square performances.

Lorensen said expectations are high after last year's increased demand for tickets and positive feedback from concertgoers.

On the night of the last open rehearsal recently, the parking lot of an LDS meetinghouse in Taylorsville looked like stake conference, choir member Jean Turner said.

Inside, the singers filled the pews and folding chairs that crossed the opened dividers between the chapel and cultural hall. The women come from around the Salt Lake valley and places as far away as Vernal and Evanston, Wyo.

Besides the Hawaiian number, they also rehearsed songs in French, Italian and Latin.

At one point, Webb said, "I don't want nice, pretty and cute -- this song has to rock. Picture yourself throwing fish sticks in the microwave and the kids ripping out pages of a book."

"It's more than a rehearsal, it's like a fireside," choir member Elizabeth Visser said.

"I feel like each week when I come the (lyrics) mean more and more to me," said Ashley Barney, who commutes from Provo to be a part of the choir. "We have to be what we sing."

To order tickets for the concert, go to www.lds.org/events or call 801-570-0080 or 1-866-537-8457.

E-mail: jfrancis@desnews.com