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ABOUT US

Rise Up, Utah’s premiere contemporary vocal performance group for young people ages 6 to 18, ignites a love of music and encourages the full expression of each child’s potential for artistic and personal excellence through the collaborative experiences of singing, recording, and performing.

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OUR MISSION

OUR BIORAPHY

The 2021 winner of Utah’s Best of State award for “Best Music Education Organization,” Rise Up  has a global audience with over a quarter of a million subscribers to their YouTube channel and over 30 million views of their music videos. They have won the Utah Music Video Awards’ “Best Music Video Award” for their stunning rendition of “Speechless” which has reached over 14 million views on YouTube. The choir was recognized by the #1 KPOP band BTS on Twitter for their cover of “Dynamite,” which was also named “Best Cover of Dynamite” by KPOP Chart; and recognized by the Contemporary A Cappella Society for their collaboration of “Believe” with BYU’s Vocal Point. The choir has collaborated in live performances with the trio Gentri to sold-out audiences at the Eccles Theatre, Broadway stars Dallyn Bayles and Elisabeth Evans at Libby Gardner Hall, and American Idol-winner Taylor Hicks.

Rise Up is comprised of four ensembles – Ignite Choir for children ages 6 to 12 with musical direction by Katie Houts; Children’s Choir for youth ages 12 to 18 under the direction of Carson Trautma; Amplify, our small, advanced-level mixed-voice ensemble for youth ages 13 to 18 and under the direction of Bronwyn Jensen; and Lumina, our small, advanced-level all-female ensemble for girls ages 13 to 18 under the direction of Amy Lynn Whitcomb. The award-winning founders of Rise Up are Amy Oakeson and Suzy Oliveira, who collectively have over 300,000,000 views of their creative work on YouTube.

Rise Up, Utah’s premiere contemporary vocal performance group for young people ages 6 to 18, ignites a love of music and encourages the full expression of each child’s potential for artistic and personal excellence through the collaborative experiences of singing, recording, and performing.

 

In a professional environment with a diverse and talented staff of experts in their fields, young performers are given the opportunity to develop their talents, collaborate with artists in the production and performance of live music and recorded music videos, and share their uplifting messages of hope and joy with live audiences and online viewers around the world.

Rise Up uses social media in wonderful and transformative ways to make the world a better place – one view, one like, and one share at a time. Through the creation of positive, powerful, professional and entertaining content across our various social media platforms, the group engages audiences emotionally, encourages dialogue about important issues and causes, and delivers much needed optimism and inspiration.

 

Every child is born with talents and passions. Rise Up is a place where young performers are encouraged to pursue their passions and celebrate life through creative expression and personal discovery, both as members of the choir and in their daily lives. We foster talent, offer inspiration, provide support, and give our young performers the courage to follow their dreams.

OUR STAFF

Amy Oakeson

Amy Oakeson

Producer, Director + Cofounder

Bold. Resilient. Driven.

Superpower – Can conjure something amazing out of practically nothing.

Don’t ever ask her to do math...or eat mushrooms.

Amy Geis

Amy Geis

Supermom Extraordinaire – ability to juggle a professional music career while being a wife and mom to a “terrible-two!”

Supermom Extraordinaire – ability to juggle a professional music career while being a wife and mom to a “terrible-two!”

Keith Goodrich

Keith Goodrich

Music Director, Children’s Choir

Passionate. Talented. Achieving.

Superpower – An artist who creates beauty with everything he touches.

He will do anything...and I mean anything for his friends and family.

David Allen

David Allen

Music Director, Amplify

Fun-loving. Energetic. Eager.

Superpower – Like a shape shifter, can adapt to just about any situation with a cheerful attitude.

She has the temperament of a red-head with the voice of an angel.

Katie Houts

Katie Houts

Music Director, Junior Choir

Imaginative. Compassionate. Wise.

Superpower – Can quiet a room of children and keep them rapt with a whisper.

Katie can pretty much do everything, and with a smile.

Grace Ibarra

Grace Ibarra

Production Assistant + Administrator

Kind. Capable. Adventurous.

Superpower - Can coordinate any task any time any place with perfection and pizazz.

Don't ask her to sit idle. It's just not possible.

Join us.

Join us.

Program Overview – Ensembles – Participation in Rise Up ensembles is season-long, not month to month

Ignite 

  • Tuesday, 6:00 to 6:50 PM, Lehi

  • Wednesday, 6:00 to 6:50 PM, Murray

 

Children’s Choir

  • Tuesday, 4:30 to 5:50 PM, Lehi

  • Wednesday, 4:30 to 5:50 PM, Murray

 

Lumina

  • Monday, 4:30 to 6:00 PM, Lehi

Amplify

  • Monday, 4:30 to 6:00 PM, Lehi

Tuition Rates 2024-2025 Season

  • Ignite - $80 per month

  • Children’s Choir - $95 per month

  • Lumina - $190 per month

  • Amplify - $190 per month

Discounts

Sibling Discount $5 off each sibling after the first enrolled. 

Included in Tuition

  • Weekly Rehearsals

  • Small group and solo coaching

  • Access to music and practice tracks

  • Live Performances, professional audio recordings, music video filming

Additional Fees

  • Non-fundable annual per-family Registration Fee:  $35

  • Concert Tickets:  Varie 

  • Orientation Camp (held in August):  $95

  • Rise Up T-shirt (included if your child attended camp):  $15

  • Wardrobe and Production Fee:  $125 Ignite, $150 all others – includes formal performance uniform and covers miscellaneous costs associated with video production.

  • Late Payment Fee:  $10 if payment is sent 10 days after the due date

 

  • Children’s Choir Tours (optional):  $1000 to $5000

  • Lumina Local/Regional $100 to $500, National/International (optional):  $1000 to $5000

  • Amplify National A Cappella Competition or Convention:  $1000 to $3000

  • Ignite does not tour. 

Financial Assistance 

Rise Up maintains a need-based tuition assistance policy. Financial assistance is awarded to qualifying families in our ensemble programs on a year-by-year basis. A tuition assistance application is required along with supporting financial documents. Use this application for the 2024-2025 season. (link) Each application is reviewed individually and confidentially by our administrative staff. Assistance is given to those with the greatest need first until resources are depleted. 

It is generally our policy not to award full financial aid for any program. We ask families to contribute some portion of the tuition, no matter how small. That said, on rare occasions, full aid for tuition may be awarded. Tuition assistance is only available for reduced choir and camp tuition. All other fees (such as registration, wardrobe/production, and tours) must be paid in full. 

Family Association

Rise Up depends on the contributions of the many parents, family members and friends who volunteer to support the choirs. Volunteers provide an important array of services and activities including chaperoning and assisting at performances, audio recordings in the studio, and on set of music video filming. Each family is asked to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours per year. 

Our parent fundraising committee helps provide opportunities for singers and families to raise money for choir tuition and choir related activities such as tours. 

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