An 11-year-old from Evanston recently had the distinct honor to perform with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Children’s Choir at the Church Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Salt Lake City.

Brooklyn Kennedy, the daughter of Jason and Lindsey Kennedy, was one of 388 children selected from 2,800 who had auditioned.

“I was the only child selected for the choir living in Wyoming. Go Pokes!!” Brooklyn told the Herald.

“I love to sing and am always walking around my house singing songs,” said Brooklyn, who is an alto.

“My mom sent an audition video of myself singing ‘A Child’s Prayer’ a cappella.”

The fifth-grader from Uinta Meadows Elementary said. “I was nervous but excited to try out. [In] the beginning of August, I found out that I had made the choir.”

According to Kennedy’s mom, Lindsey, choir participants had to live within 85 miles from the conference center in downtown Salt Lake City.

“We live 84 miles away,” Brooklyn said.  “Practices for the choir were held each Sunday. My mom and I would drive to the conference center each Sunday from mid-August till General Conference (Oct. 5-6).”

In addition to the festival, the children’s choir also performed during the Saturday afternoon session of the general conference in October. Both performances were broadcast and watched by members of the church worldwide.

“The last time that I could find that there was a children’s choir at general conference was in 2015. It’s not something that takes place regularly,” Lindsey said.

“It felt wonderful to perform in this amazing choir. I felt the spirit,” Brooklyn said.  “My favorite song that we sang was a new hymn ‘When the Savior Comes Again.’ I love this song because it feels so powerful every time we sing it.”

“This experience has been such a special one for our family. I feel so lucky to have attended each practice. The choir director was so amazing and the children sounded like angels,” Lindsey said.  “I know that their performances touched many hearts around the world.”