Libby youth choir members perform with American Idol champion

A handful of Libby children’s choir members recently met and performed with an American Idol winner.

Libby Schools choir teacher Lorraine Braun’s son Benjamin Watson directs a children’s choir in Rexburg, Idaho. He invited her to bring some of her after-school children’s choir members to join his performers Nov. 26 in the Rexburg Children’s Choir Christmas Concert with Iam Tongi.

Tongi is a 20-year-old Hawaiian who won season 21 of the long-running American singing competition television series. The concert featured combined songs along with arrangements just for Tongi and the choir. The children’s choir is made up of 92 children aged 9 to 17 and this year marked their seventh annual Christmas concert.

The kids were also part of a professionally produced video with Tongi.

“What a magnificent opportunity and experience the kids had,” Braun said.

The group of kids included Linzie Willis, Sammy Evans, Allison Evans, Atticus Lande, Jacob Stanton, Vivian Cole, Rylee Hutchings, Josie Jacobson and Elena Haugen.

“Going to Rexburg to sing with Iam Tongi was the most exciting experience of my life,” Willis said. “My favorite part was when we got to meet Iam. He was such an amazing, humble and overall, just a very good person.

“His voice plus the choirs’ was just phenomenal. Everyone in the band and the crew were just great people. I am so glad I got to meet those people and sing in the concert.”

For Elena Haugen, she loved being up on stage and wouldn’t hesitate to it again.

“Going to Rexburg was incredible and inspiring,” Haugen said. “Something about being up on that stage and feeling the audience connect feels like home! I met some wonderful people, including Iam Tongi, who was so kind and amazing to listen to!

“I loved going on this trip and would do it over and over again,” she said.

Braun enjoyed her students’ excitement.

“Seeing my students be excited and thrilled to be involved in such a professional performance was very gratifying,” Braun said. “All the students did an awesome job performing. They were very kind and respectful toward everyone involved with the concert.”

Choir members will be performing Handel's Messiah at the Memorial Center in Libby at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. Admission is free.

The Libby Middle High School and Honors choirs will be putting on their Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 at the Memorial Center.

The students who attended the Rexburg concert will showcase a few of the songs they performed, including the video.

    Libby youth choir members took part in the Rexburg Children’s Choir Christmas Concert Nov. 26, 2024, where Season 21 American Idol winner Iam Tongi joined them. (Courtesy photo)