Think of the most iconic movie themes of the last century, and odds are it was written by John Williams. From “Jaws” to “Indiana Jones,” “Star Wars” to “Harry Potter” some of the most moving and recognizable cinematic music was written by Williams, and now, Davis County gets to hear that music played live by Skyward Symphony. 

Jonathan T. Nish, an attorney with Christensen and Jensen, and director of the group said that they’ve been wanting to put on this kind of concert for years, and now the time is finally right. “Jonathan is a big nerd,” said Sarah Pehrson, Concertmaster, “A lot of us are big nerds,” which made John Williams’ music a natural choice, despite the difficult nature of the pieces, “We wanted to see if we could do it,” said Nish, “It is so strikingly difficult.”

So much so that generally speaking, only professional orchestras attempt these pieces, but Skyward is a completely volunteer organization. So, why take on such a herculean task? The answers varied, but a common theme ran throughout: this is music that everyone knows and loves, both the performers and the audience. “This group focuses on what the community will enjoy,” said Nish, adding, “Everyone thoroughly enjoys playing this music.”

“These are memorable melodies,” said Brittney Hanson, symphony president and musician with the symphony, “and there are feelings associated with those melodies. You hear them, and you remember what happened in the film.” Even if the film isn’t one the musicians have seen, the themes still have the capacity to move people. “It drives you to watch the movie,” said Angela Romero, percussionist, “I got chills.” 

With a catalog of music dating back to the 1950s, the symphony had to be judicious in its choices, “We went through a lot of pieces,” said Nish, but he and the others are confident people will enjoy the pieces selected. Recognizable classics from “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Hook” and “Star Wars” dot the selection, but also a few surprises. Included in these is a lesser-known selection from the John Wayne classic, “The Cowboys,” “Before he was a household name,” said Nish.

For the community, Skyward Symphony provides regular concerts with exciting music free of charge, but for the performers themselves, the group provides something more. “It’s my happy place,” said Romero. “It’s peaceful,” echoed Shelby Batis, PR for the symphony, and principal oboist, “Being part of a community.” “This,” said Nish, “is how I stay healthy.” The sentiment echoed by each was one of community, “This orchestra is my other family,” said Nish as the others nodded in agreement. 

The Music of John Williams concert by Skyward Symphony will take place on Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Kenley Amphitheater in Layton. The concert will be free to the public, but, as Skyward is a completely volunteer group, donations are always welcome to help keep the organization running. More information about the concert, Skyward Symphony, donations and other upcoming events can be found at skywardsymphony.org.