Music is a universal language that crosses all demographics, creating community connection through a shared experience. Jonathan Nish, director of the Skyward Symphony, said music helps us transcend our differences and gives people of all races, ages and genders a place to come together with feeling and emotion. 

“We started off very humbly, 20 to 25 musicians playing in a church house, and now we’re 75 strong and playing at Abravanel Hall this spring,” Nish said. “It’s a wonderful group of musicians. I love them with all my heart.”

The Skyward Symphony is a community orchestra based in Davis County. Its main goal is to offer an invigorating environment for musicians while providing quality music performances for the public. 

The symphony started five years ago, when a group of musicians came together to undertake a performance of the “Lamb of God,” a professional-level oratorio. It was much harder than expected and they reached out to Nish to help organize and conduct the performance.

“I was really excited. I had gone to college to study to be a symphony director but I ended up changing directions and going into law, so it was something I never got to actually do.”

Nish, a criminal defense attorney at Christensen & Jensen, said the experience was so wonderful, the musicians decided to continue playing together. They created a board of directors, got some funding and now perform free concerts several times a year. 

The Skyward Symphony’s summer concert will be held Thursday, Aug. 18, from 7-9 p.m. at the Ed Kenley Amphitheater in Layton (403 N. Wasatch Dr.) The group will perform Know Your Roots: A Video Game Concert, featuring music from popular games.

“We believe it’s a community service because music is important,” Nish said. “We try to make sure we play music that no matter who comes, they’re going to enjoy it.”

Sarah Pehrson serves as the symphony’s concert master and has been with the group since the beginning. She said playing in a symphonic atmosphere allows everyone to demonstrate their skills while performing as a group. 

“It’s been my baby and I love helping a new program start up and have it grow bigger,” Pehrson said. “It’s almost beyond words. Words are not my strength. My language, I’ve always said, is music because I can easily put my emotions and my feelings out there through my music. That’s why I’m a musician.”

Even with more than 70 members, the Skyward Symphony is always welcoming new musicians. Ranging in ages from 11 to 70, symphony members build lasting friendships and learn from each other in the process.

Nish said the only requirement to be part of the symphony is to have the ability to keep up and to be dedicated to practice. 

“We don’t mind if they're a little behind as long as they’re willing to put in a little time and energy to keep up with the group,” she said. “And they do. We’ve never kicked anyone out. We allow people to come play where they might not be able to play anywhere else.”

Nish said the orchestra is good for his mental health and there is no experience to rival conducting an orchestra. As a defense attorney, he helps people in dire situations, people others have given up on, and gets to make a difference in their lives.

He equates music with that same energy. It has the ability to uplift and change lives for the better.

“I work with people in a lot of trouble, some even facing the death penalty,” he said. “I represent very few musicians. I think music gives people community and a peer group and it provides people with a lifelong ambition. With my clients, perhaps if they’d had an experience with such an orchestra, maybe things would have turned out differently.”

For more information about Skyward Symphony, visit SkywardSymphony.org

“I’ve been a musician for more than 20 years,” Pehrson said. “I grew up with music in the home. It’s ingrained in my body and my soul. That’s who I am.”