BOUNTIFUL—A high school madrigal class from the 60s has stayed in touch all these years and the group is coming together for a special performance on Wednesday, March 26 at Creekside Assisted Living.

“In 1964-1967 I was the choral director at Point Loma High School in San Diego,” said Lew Phelps, a Bountiful resident. “The madrigals had the 16 top best voices. Kids would kill to be in it. I only took juniors and seniors.”

One day a young man who was a sophomore came in and wanted to try out, said Phelps. “I thought I’d make quick work of him. He played the piano and he sang a low C. I thought ‘wait, what’s my rule?’ In three seconds he was in. Intelligence and talent, that’s what made the difference.”

He was living on the street in a hut behind a house, Phelps said. “He told me ‘you saved my life.’ He would have never graduated and would have fallen through the cracks of society.”

That class has stayed connected for close to 60 years. “They’ve stayed friends in between,” said Phelps. “They’re the only group in the whole world to get together and celebrate that one class in high school.”

The madrigals were once invited to perform at a Presbyterian Church, he said. “I sat in the back. I was so proud. Another time the principal found out we were singing at a private club on Fridays. I wasn’t there. He said ‘it’s not what you think.’ The principal started laughing. ‘They’re singing to raise money to buy you a gift.’ They bought me a briefcase.”

Phelps said over the years he’s kept in touch with his students. “We get together every other year. They would fly me to San Diego. This is the first time they’ve come to see me. We’re still dear friends after all these years. We became family.”

The concert will take place at 3 p.m., March 26. Creekside is located at 430 W. 400 North, Bountiful.