Noteworthy (vocal group) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids BYU Noteworthy
BYU Noteworthy Logo
Background information
Origin	Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States
Genres	A cappella
Years active	2003 (2003)–present
Members	Whitney Anderson, Grace Christensen, Rosie Durland, Grace Ibarra, Augustine Larsen, Skylar Mertz, Kate Miller, Claire Quigley, Brittan Wawro

BYU Noteworthy is a talented group of nine female singers from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, United States. They sing a cappella music, which means they perform without any instruments, using only their voices.

Noteworthy won first place at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) in 2007. They also appeared on the TV show The Sing-Off in 2009. The group was started in 2003 by Esther Yoder. Since 2014, BYU's Performing Arts Management (PAM) has helped guide the group. One of their most famous music videos is a cover of "Amazing Grace". This video has been watched millions of times on YouTube. Noteworthy has released six albums since they began. In 2018, they performed "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A former member, Amy Whitcomb, was on The Voice. She later became the director of Noteworthy from 2018 to 2021.

The Story of Noteworthy

How Noteworthy Started

Noteworthy was founded in 2003 by BYU student Esther Yoder. She worked with Bob Ahlander, who directed another BYU singing group called Vocal Point. Members from Vocal Point also helped create the new group. Noteworthy officially started in 2004 with nine female singers.

Early Competitions and First Album

In 2004, Noteworthy competed in the ICCA for the first time. They placed second in their region. Esther Yoder won an award for "Most Outstanding Vocal Percussion." She was the first woman to ever win this award! In 2006, the group released their first album, On the Horizon. They competed in the ICCA again and placed second. A song from their album, "Kaval Sviri," was nominated for an award.

Becoming International Champions

The year 2007 was a big one for Noteworthy. They won first place in all rounds of the ICCA competition. This included the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final round in New York City. This made them the 2007 International Champions! Their director, Catherine Papworth, won an award for her song arrangements. Kristin Papworth, a group member, won an award for her choreography.

Albums and TV Appearances

Noteworthy released their second album, Green Means Go, in 2009. A song from this album, "Listen," was chosen for a "Best of Collegiate A Cappella" collection. Also in 2009, Noteworthy appeared on NBC's TV show The Sing-Off. This was a reality show where a cappella groups competed. Noteworthy was on the show for two episodes.

After The Sing-Off, Noteworthy continued to win awards at the ICCA. They won for Outstanding Choreography, Soloist, Arrangement, and Vocal Percussion. Their third album, Defined, came out in 2010. This album received four nominations for different awards. In 2012, Noteworthy performed with the Whiffenpoofs of Yale, another famous a cappella group. That same year, they won first place at an ICCA Quarterfinal.

YouTube Videos and University Support

In 2013, Noteworthy made their first music video for YouTube. In 2014, they released a new album called "Unbound." They also celebrated their 10-year anniversary with a special concert. Noteworthy began to receive official support from BYU in 2014. Keith Evans became their artistic director.

In 2015, Noteworthy became very popular with their "Amazing Grace" music video. It has been viewed millions of times. This video also won an award for Best Religious Video. They also made videos for "Star Wars: A Cappella Strikes Back" and "Be Thou My Vision". Noteworthy toured to places like the Four Corners and performed on The Today Show. They even opened for comedian Jay Leno!

Recent Albums and Performances

In 2016, Noteworthy released a new album called "Ready for a Miracle." They also filmed three new music videos. These included "Vivir Mi Vida" by Marc Anthony and "Unsteady" with the BYU Cougarettes. They performed in Alaska, which was their first time performing outside the main United States. In 2017, they released another album, "How Sweet the Sound: Songs of Inspiration." In 2018, they sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" for a special message from the LDS Church.

Noteworthy Music

Noteworthy has released several albums and many single songs. Here are some of their main albums and singles:

Albums

• "This Is Noteworthy" (2021)
• "How Sweet the Sound: Songs of Inspiration" (2017)
• "Ready For A Miracle" (2016)
• "Unbound" (2014)
• "Defined" (2010)
• "Green Means Go" (2009)
• "On the Horizon" (2006)

Singles

• "What Child Is This?" (2021)
• "Salute" (2021)
• "River Deep - Mountain High" (2021)
• "Castles" (2021)
• "Grow As We Go" (2021)
• "Amazing Grace (feat. The Bonner Family)" (2021)
• "The First Noel" (2020)
• "Proud Mary" (2020)
• "You Say" (2019)
• "Bird Set Free" (2019)
• "I Can Only Imagine" (2019)
• "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Go Tell It on the Mountain" (2018)
• "You'll Be in My Heart (From "Tarzan")" (2018)
• "Feeling Good" (2018)
• "Unsteady" (2017)
• "Gloria (Angels We Have Heard on High)" (2016)
• "Be Thou My Vision" (2016)
• "Star Wars: A Cappella Strikes Back" (2015)
• "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" (2015)
• "Geronimo" (2015)
• "Madness" (2014)
• "I Was Here" (2014)
• "Feel Again" (2014)
• "O Holy Night" (2013)
• "I Knew You Were Trouble / We Are Never Getting Back Together" (2013)
• "Without You / I Will Wait Mashup" (2013)