Alex Boye, a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a solo artist, was a special guest performer at the 55th class reunion of the Church College of New Zealand recently.
The reunion saw alumni and their family and friends from across New Zealand and other parts of the world gather over the Easter weekend in Hamilton.
Mr Boye’s set was scheduled to run for 45 minutes, but — to the delight of those attending — he continued to perform for a total of 2 ½ hours. Following the program a spontaneous haka was presented by some members of the audience.
“The haka was a humbling experience,” Boye said.
Bob Hamon, one of the reunion organizers said Boye’s performance “was totally polished and professional in every way.”
“Alex seemed to absorb the feelings and appreciation of the audience, frequently coming off the stage to engage with the crowd directly,” he said.
Moses Armstrong, president of the CCNZ Alumni Association agreed. “He was amazing. I have never before seen an entertainer of his calibre in New Zealand.”
He said: “After talking to the school administrator and telling them how unhappy I was, the administrator replied, ‘It is only mortar and bricks. The school is what is deep inside of you."
For Moses Armstrong, Alex Boye’s attendance and performance at the reunion was “just meant to be.”
Mr Boye first performed in public while serving a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bristol, England.
After his mission, he was seeking a way to build an audience for his music when he met Craig Jessop, then conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Jessop encouraged him to audition for the choir, Boye says.
“I have been a member of the 360 voice Tabernacle Choir since 2006 because of his encouragement,” Mr Boye says.
According to Mormon Newsroom, “the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, one of the oldest and largest choirs in the world, has performed before U.S. presidents, sold millions of records, won scores of awards and enthralled audiences in dozens of countries.”
Photo Courtesy of Alex Boye