Eagle Mountain has some very talented people, and a number of those people enjoy their talents and love to share them with others. Andrea Butler shares this about two of Eagle Mountains residents. “Kayla and Angelina both co-founded the Eagle Mountain Symphony. It is still in an infantile state and they’ve had to work really hard to get it going and recruit members. It is sad to see the arts struggle to survive and to bring it to a small town is no easy job, but it benefits us as a community to have such organizations. They are both very talented, Kayla is a masterful violist and Angelina is a wonderful vocalist/flutist and band instructor. Talented people live out here in Eagle Mountain and Kayla and Angelina are creating a venue for people to share that talent and in rich the lives of those who call this place Home.”
Kayla has lived in “beautiful” Eagle Mountain for close to five years. When asked why she picked Eagle Mountain, she responded with, “My husband and I are both from small towns in Wyoming and we loved the smaller town feel of city center while still being conveniently located close to my husbands work. We stay here because of the loving people and the family friendly community.” She has been married for almost seven years to her husband Joshua (also pictured above). They have three “amazing children”: Paige (4), Henry (2) and Makenna (1). They enjoy swimming and spending quality time together.
Besides spending time with her family, Kalya has a love for other activities that can be found around Eagle Mountain. “My hobbies include playing and teaching the viola, hiking and exploring the mountains around us, helping the arts as a member of the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, and when the opportunity arises snorkeling. I also enjoy helping to be apart of spreading the arts as a member of the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance by helping plan some fun art related community events.”
Kayla when asked what makes her unique had this to say, “I am not all that interesting of a person, but I have had the opportunity to travel to a couple interesting places. I once played with an orchestra that had the opportunity to do a tour in Bolivia, South America. We got to experience such a different and fun culture there. We got the opportunity to teach some students in a youth orchestra and play with them in concert. They had an attitude of gratitude that was inspiring. My travels also took me to Hawaii for a couple months when my husband got briefly transferred for work. We had a great time there connecting with nature and a new culture. Seeing magnificent waterfalls, snorkeling with colorful fish and turtles and learning more about the Polynesian culture were highlights of our stay in Hawaii. I look forward to seeing more of the world in the future.”
As mentioned, besides traveling, Kayla has a passion for music. Besides her playing and teaching the viola, she is involved in the Eagle Mountain Symphony Orchestra (EMSO). With the support and help of others, she was instrumental in the organization of the EMSO. “The Symphony is growing to become a high quality music ensemble bring more music into the community. Our goals are to provide an opportunity for people who play instruments to be able to come make music together, to challenge our players to improve our skills, to bring enjoyment and more culture to a rapidly growing community, and also to provide members of our community to learn more about music.” Kayla continues, “As the Symphony grows over the next few years, we hope to be able to provide many varieties of music for people of ages: serious orchestral works along with fun pops music for the whole family. We hope to have a nice full orchestra where the musicians can play fun challenging music, improve their skills and connect with other musicians while doing it. We also plan to be a good influence in the music education of kids by providing fun concerts and learning opportunities for the kids in our city.”
When Kayla was asked why she became involved in the EMSO, she responded, “I choose to be involved with the city because I love to make music with others and I love the opportunity I have had to get to know people through the orchestra. One thing that I have loved being apart of this is seeing the happiness music can bring to people.. An example of that was at Eagle Mountain City’s Christmas Village. As we played we could see kids and their moms happily dancing and enjoying the music while standing in line to see Santa. Moments where we can see the joy music can bring to people is why I love doing this. ”
This is an Cedar Valley Sentinel (formerly i84005) Resident Spotlight. If you know a resident that you would like for us to spotlight, please let us know. You can view other resident spotlights on our Resident Spotlights page.Related Resources
Eagle Mountain Symphony and Orcestra Facebook Page
Contact the EMSO via email at: eaglemountainsymphony@gmail.com
You can also find EMSO on the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance Page
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.