Choral Arts Society of Utah

The Choral Arts Society of Utah Master Chorale is an eclectic group of people who gather weekly to share their common passion for singing. Founded in 1997, the choir has grown to a membership of 100+ members under the leadership of founder and Music Director, Sterling Poulson. Established as a private, nonprofit 501c3 nonprofit corporation, their goal is to help preserve the choral art, promote music appreciation and provide public performance opportunities for singers, musicians, composers, conductors and others. The society performs an average of 5 formal concerts a year, either alone or in conjunction with other artists or organizations as well as a series of community interaction performances and appearances. Most noted of the Society’s annual performances are the “Days of ’47 Pops Concert”, traditionally held in Abravanel Hall to kick off the Pioneer celebration in Utah, and the “Holiday Pops Concert”, a benefit for the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. Choir members join through an audition process and rehearse every Tuesday evening at Taylorsville High School from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.

Although the volunteer choir members come from diverse backgrounds, careers, ages and cities all along the Wasatch Front, their common love of music has formed a strong kinship in this singing group of now lifelong friends. The members come from all walks of life, volunteering their time and talents to provide quality entertainment for the community. Many of their performances are benefit concerts for schools and organizations providing humanitarian services to local areas.

Sterling is the Music Director and Founder of The Choral Arts Society of Utah, conducting as many as six concerts each year with the 120-voice choir. He was appointed Associate Music Director of the Jay Welch Chorale in 1985 and served under Dr. Jay Welch for eleven years. He was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Choral Arts Society of Utah in December 1996. His career includes guest-conducting performances with the Utah Symphony, West Valley Symphony, the New American Symphony, the Sierra Nevada Master Chorale & Orchestra, the Fillmore Regional Chorus & Orchestra, the South Davis Community Choir & Orchestra and the Southern Utah Heritage Choir. He has had several guest conducting appearances with the Utah National Guard’s 23rd Army Band, including a performance of Randall Thompson’s Testament of Freedom in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square.

In 1997 he was appointed Music Director of the Days of ’47 Pops Concert held in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City every July. He has expanded this free concert to a two-night event and it is one of the more popular summer concerts in Salt Lake City. In May of 2002, he received the Award of Harmony from The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Singing in America, presented by the Saltaires Show Chorus for his work in promoting music education and appreciation in our community. He served two terms on the board of the American Choral Directors-Utah Chapter, and from 1988 – 2009, he held the position of music reader for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Broadcast Music and the Spoken Word. He is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education with choral emphasis at the University of Utah.

Sterling Poulson is currently the Chief Meteorologist for 2News, joining the KUTV 2News Weather Team as an anchor, weather producer and meteorologist in December 1989. This veteran forecaster graduated with a degree in Meteorology and was trained as a forecaster in the United States Air Force. During his ten years on active duty with the USAF, He served a thirteen-month tour in Vietnam from 1970-1971. He was later given a special assignment to the National Emergency Command Aircraft, 1st Airborne Command Control Squadron in direct support of “Air Force One” at Andrews AFB, Maryland. He was a Severe Storms Forecaster, assigned to the Air Force Global Weather Center at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, providing aviation forecasts in support of Air Force and Department of Defense missions worldwide. He served 11 years with the Utah Air National Guard, and recently retired from the Air force after 27 years of service.

Sterling’s television career began in 1985 when he joined KSL television in Salt Lake City as a weather producer and meteorologist. Sterling is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, with the seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society. He served a three-year term as a member of the Board of Broadcast Meteorologists from 1997-2000. He chaired the AMS Broadcaster’s National Convention in San Francisco in June 2000. He enjoys visiting schools with the 2News Storm Tracker speaking to school kids about weather and science. He is a member of the Clark Planetarium Board of Directors, Executive Vice President of the Days of ’47 and Board Chair of the Choral Arts Society of Utah.

Sterling Poulson Sterling resides in Centerville with his wife Danette and enjoys fishing and spending time with his family, including his five children and eight grandchildren.