Many of us have old family relics gathering dust in our attics. If that relic is an instrument with a tie to Utah history, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO) wants to help bring it back into the light.
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Pioneer Fiddles: The Soundtrack of the Gathering to Zion will showcase family instruments with a connection to Utah history — and the stories behind them — for an exhibition in Salt Lake City next year. The new initiative from USUO is in partnership with the Church History Museum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will coincide with Temple Square’s reopening in 2027.
Ben Kipp, USUO’s vice president of education and community engagement, said the program came about as USUO planned its summer tour in partnership with America250 Utah. The Music Elevated tour, which starts on Monday and will travel around the state, will celebrate Utah’s unique history and musical heritage.
“We were thinking, what are some unique ways that we can solidify the stories that connect community and music?” Kipp told the Deseret News.
He started thinking about the stories people tell when someone dies — of their life, their work, the treasured items they leave behind.
“Well, what if we gave people a chance to tell that story?” Kipp said. “And what if those stories connected to not only the history of the organization but (also) the history of the state?”
Utah’s dedication to music and the arts is unique in the United States, Kipp said. USUO has a long history in the state and receives support from both rural and urban communities and the state government.
Music also played an integral role in the culture of the early Latter-day Saint pioneers who settled Utah. Kipp noted the Church History Museum already has several pioneer-era instruments, including a cello from the 1800s owned by a musician who was a member of the Tabernacle Orchestra, a precursor to the Utah Symphony.
What to expect from the exhibition
Instruments chosen for the exhibition will be restored, if possible, and displayed in Abravanel Hall and around downtown Salt Lake City in 2027.
Although the exhibit’s title is “Pioneer Fiddles,” Kipp said any instrument that has a tie to Utah heritage and culture is welcome for submission, from saxophones to fifes.
“Really, we’re looking for any instrument that is representative of culture, and it doesn’t even need to necessarily be of pioneer culture,” Kipp said, saying one family submitted an instrument with Hispanic heritage that dates to the turn of the century.
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“There are so many stories, especially nowadays as the state becomes more diverse,” he said. “We want to be the holding place for that.”
The purpose of this exhibition is not to simply showcase the instruments but to share the stories of the people who played them, connecting family history with Utah’s past and present. USUO has also partnered with StoryCorps, which will help capture the story behind each instrument and save it to the National Archives.
Kipp said there’s an “intangible quality” and connection that comes when people share something that means something to them.
“When we talk to folks about their instruments, it’s exciting for the purpose of the project, but then also as a human to hear how much this thing — this fiddle, this fife, whatever it is — means to this person,” he said.
“You hear about the family member that it came from, and for that brief moment, we’re able to connect over something — that’s about this instrument, but it’s really about the people.”
How to submit your pioneer-era instrument
USUO will be sharing more about the project and answering questions on its summer tour. The seven concerts are free to the public and open to all ages, and guests can RSVP on the USUO website.
If you have an instrument that you believe would suit the Pioneer Fiddles exhibition, even if it isn’t in playing condition or you don’t know its full story, fill out this form on the USUO website.
The USUO team will review submissions, and selected instruments will be evaluated and potentially restored to playing condition by Peter Prier & Sons Violins.
The Church History Museum will assist in the preservation of the artifacts and their stories, which will be recorded by StoryCorps.
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If you have any questions, contact [email protected].