Joel Longhurst has sung with UCA since the 1998-1999 season.  Although he was raised in a musical home, the impetus for his involvement in choral music began at Cottonwood High School when a friend convinced him that auditioning for school choirs would be a great way to meet more girls.  Upon discovering choral singing to be a rewarding experience in itself, Joel continued singing in college with the BYU Mens' Chorus and BYU Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Mack Wilberg, and studied voice with Dr. Kenneth Shelley.  He has served as a church choir conductor and occasionally tries his hand at writing vocal and instrumental arrangements.  He is employed as a speech-language pathologist at a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Salt Lake City and resides in the Holladay area.  Joel has served as the usher coordinator for UCA concerts since the 2008-2009 season.