Lilacs in the Valley Lilacs in the Valley" is not the work of a single person but is the collaboration and combination of talents of many people.

Daris Howard (Author and composer.) Daris Howard is a professor at Ricks College. His classes are well know for stories he tells to liven up discussion and to help bring across the points he is trying to teach. As students have asked for the stories to be written he has put together a short story collection which he shares with them.

Daris has a love of good music and literature. This interest led him to take classes like "Popular Song Writing" as he pursued his academic discipline. Under the direction of Wilson Brown, the piano player for the once popular "Letterman" singing group, he learned the techniques of writing popular songs.

"Lilacs in the Valley" is a culmination of interest in these areas. The music shows his wide interest in music with jazz, western, rock, blues, and classical styles. He drew on the talents of many people to get the desired feel. The script is much like his stories, full of humor, feeling, and fun. The first production was especially popular with the teenage audience, just as his stories have been.

Donna Howard (Arranger) Donna Howard loves the performance arena of music. She loves to play in jazz bands, dance bands, orchestras, and musicals. Also trained under Wilson Brown she learned many of the techniques of high quality performance and music.

Pursuing her degree in music she also found great interest in the theory of music. Using these skill and working together, Donna and Daris were able to go through the songs written for the musical and refine them making the finished product much better.

In the musical "Lilacs in the Valley" her arranging style can be felt in songs like "It Ain't Much But It's Home" and "Walkin' Along".

Nancy Walker (Arranger) Nancy Walker is a professional flutist. She has a long list of impressive credentials starting at age 12 as a cellist for the San Gabriel Junior Symphony. She also toured with the All-Southern California High School Honor Orchestra.

She majored in music at Pamona College with an emphasis on flute. She been a member of the San Fernando Valley Symphony and the Southern California Flute Orchestra under the direction of John Barcellona. She enjoys musicals and has been the principle flutist for many.

After moving to the Salt Lake area she was a flutist for the Salt Lake Symphony under Dr. Dalton. She was also a member of the Quicksilver Flute Trio. Through her career she has done many compositions and arrangements.

In the musical "Lilacs in the Valley" her talent and love of fine classical style music can be felt in songs like "Rest Well My Baby".

Dan Lee (Arranger) Dan Lee is one of the best up and coming young arrangers. He loves jazz and is a top notch bass player. Highly sought after for his high quality full orchestra or small combo arrangements, he has worked on scores for films such as " " and arrangements for touring groups like "Showtime Company".

In the musical "Lilacs in the Valley", Dan's style can be felt in most of the music from the jazz of "Wagons Roll" to the upbeat style of "You Make Me Smile".