Michael McLean is a songwriter, composer, author, performer, playwright, film  producer and director. In the past 30 years he has sold more than 1.5 million copies of his more than 30 albums, 5 books and 2 movies. With a background in film, Michael began early in his career making commercials for radio and television, and later used his film experience to produce and direct several films, including Together Forever, The Prodigal Son, and Mr. Krueger’s Christmas, starring film legend Jimmy Stewart.

He released his debut album, You’re Not Alone, in 1983 and from there began a best-selling musical legacy. Since 1991 Michael has performed The Forgotten Carols for more than 1.5 million people across the country, and “The Carols” has become a beloved tradition for thousands of families who mark the beginning of their holiday season with this magical musical. Michael and his wife, Lynne, have 3 children and 2 grandchildren and live in Daniel, Utah.

You can catch Michael this Christmas season on the 34th Annual Tour of The Forgotten Carols. Follow along on social media or visit forgottencarols.com for the full list of upcoming tour dates—announced next month!

Kenneth Cope is a beloved songwriter, producer, and performer who has been a defining voice in faith-centered music for more than three decades. Known for his stirring lyrics and deep devotion to Christ, Kenneth’s music has inspired countless lives and brought eternal truths to light through melody and message. He is a multiple PEARL Award winner—including honors for Male Vocalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and Album of the Year—and was nominated for a Contemporary Christian Album of the Year by the Association for Independent Music.

In addition to his solo work, Kenneth has composed more than 25 songs for the EFY program, scored multiple film projects, and recently created a stage musical about the life of Jesus Christ titled Son of Man. To learn more about this powerful new production, visit sonofmanmusical.com. Kenneth and his wife, Kathy, live in Salt Lake City and are the proud parents of three daughters.

Kenneth will be selling merchandise and greeting audience members near portal L after the concert tonight.

Cherie Call is a gifted singer-songwriter whose thoughtful lyrics and warm melodies have made her a treasured voice in the faith-centered music community. With ten albums of original songs, her music has resonated with audiences for decades, known for its sincerity, depth, and relatable storytelling.

A two-time finalist in the prestigious Kerrville Newfolk Songwriting Competition, Cherie has performed at Nashville’s Bluebird Café and is a member of the beloved Utah folk collective, The Lower Lights. Her work has been featured in award-winning films, and she is a John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner for her co-written song “The Astronaut and the Mermaid.” Cherie also shares her passion for music as a songwriting instructor and guest presenter across Utah. She and her husband Joe have four children and live in Utah.

Cherie will be greeting audience members near portal F after the concert tonight.

GUEST OF HONOR

Janice Kapp Perry was born in Ogden, Utah, and currently lives in Provo, Utah. She and her husband Douglas Perry (deceased July 2018) have 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren. They also had numerous foster children in their home through the years.

Janice received her formal musical training at Brigham Young University where she played percussion instruments in the Concert Band and Orchestra.

In 1979 Janice released her first album of original songs, Where Is Heaven. Since that first album she has compiled an impressive list of productions: Almost 3,000 songs, 108 recorded albums, 2 full-length musicals, 8 sacred cantatas, and albums in Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, and Mandarin. She composed the hymn As Sisters in Zion in the LDS hymnbook and has ten songs in the Primary Childrens Songbook. She has cowritten six albums of songs with Senator Orrin G. Hatch. One of those songs, Heal Our Land, was performed in Washington, D.C., at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2001; at the Presidential Inauguration in 2005; and at the Kennedy Center in 2018.She has published a book, Songs From My Heart: The Stories Behind the Songs, as well as 8 volumes of Inspirational New Hymns For Choir and Home (containing 329 hymns), and 45 new Book of Mormon hymns. She has two books published by Covenant Communications: A Songbook for LDS Familes and Book of Mormon Heroes.

Janice’s works have been performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, The Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus, country duo Brooks & Dunn, Gladys Knight, The Osmonds–Second Generation, at Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power from the Crystal Cathedral, on the Oprah Winfrey Show after 9-11, as well as by countless other choirs and soloists throughout the world. What began as a simple home hobby has literally spread throughout the world and has involved the entire family. Author Joy Saunders Lundberg says “Janice has been hailed by some as the most prolific composer in the history of the church—she is the musical phenomenon of our time.”

Janice sang in The Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1993 to 1999. She and Douglas served a full-time mission to Santiago Chile from 2002-03 and a three-year church service mission in a Spanish ward in Provo. She continues writing, publishing and recording new music. In 2009 BYU-TV produced a sixty-minute documentary entitled Janice Kapp Perry: A Life of Service and Song. In a poll published in LDS Living magazine (January 2013) entitled “100 Greatest LDS Songs of All Time,” Janice’s song A Child’s Prayer was number #1. Seven of her other songs were in the top 27.

Guest Vocalist

Adrien Swenson has performed across the country in musicals, plays, concerts, and in voiceover and film. She toured with Michael McLean for 9 seasons and in the recent film of The Forgotten Carols as Connie Lou. Adrien was recently seen as Meredith in SLAC’s Bat Boy, and at UFOMT as Grizabella in Cats, Narrator in Joseph, and Amneris in Aida. Credits also include Miss Bassett in the National Tour of Finding Neverland, and Madame Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities; at Hale Sandy and WVA. Other favorites include Alice in Bright Star, Fantine in Les Miserables, Judy in 9 to 5, Nancy in Oliver!, Louise in …Patsy Cline, and Lucille in Parade.“ Thanks and love always, Matt!”

Guest Vocalist

Jordan Bluth has performed across the country in concert, opera, musical theatre, and studio recording. Known for his versatility, he’s been featured in everything from jazz standards to Broadway ballads to operatic roles. He has released three solo albums and has appeared on projects including The Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean and Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God. Jordan has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and shared the stage with the Chautauqua Symphony, Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, and the Utah Festival Symphony Orchestra. When not performing, Dr. Bluth practices optometry and enjoys life in Arizona with his wife Kaitlynn and their three children.

Keyboards:
Brett Raymond
Tyler Castleton

Guitars:
Michael Dowdle
Rich Dixon

Bass:
Peter Jensen

Drums:
Todd Sorensen

Janae Hancock
Shannon White
Kamille Walrath
Hannah Lyons
Aubrie VanBlack
Tiffany Parker
Trinsica Williams
Cheryl Carter
KaraLee Goates
Kristen McRae
Trina Harding
Ruby Dickson
Sean VanBlack
Neal Stucki