A Woman of Many Notes: The Life and Legacy of Sonja Riem
The Day the Music Spoke Back
Today, as I looked into a room filled with stacks of vintage sheet music, one name kept appearing again and again—Sonja Riem. Mesmerized by the repetition, I began to look more closely, and what unfolded was the story of an extraordinary woman. Through her leadership, performance, and dedication to music, Sonja Riem played a meaningful role in shaping the cultural life of the young community of Granger, helping lay a foundation for the arts that would continue to grow for generations.
Sonja Riem: Elevating Community Music in Granger
Sonja Joanne Beyer Riem Stark ( 1930-2014) was a formally trained musician, vocalist, and cultural leader whose influence spanned academic music, community arts, and LDS musical life in Utah and beyond.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sonja was the daughter of Johanna F. Beyer. She received advanced musical training, studying at the McCune School of Music and Art and later performing as a vocal student at the University of Utah, where she appeared in public recitals. Her musical education and ability placed her among Utah’s serious young musicians during the mid-20th century.
In the early 1950s, Sonja married Albert Riem, a native of Switzerland who had studied law there. Following their marriage in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, Sonja became widely active in church and community music. She served as choir director for the Granger 6th Ward, performed as a soloist, and participated in large-scale cantatas and ward productions. Her name appears repeatedly in Granger-area newspapers, reflecting her leadership and visibility in local musical life.
Sonja’s musical influence extended beyond ward choirs. She was a highly accomplished violinist, studying at the Juilliard School of Music, and later performing with both the Salt Lake City Symphony and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She also sang as a soprano with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Roger Wagner Chorale, reflecting her versatility as both an instrumentalist and vocalist.
Together, Sonja and Albert Riem were connected to broader efforts to develop cultural arts in the Granger and Hunter communities, including the formation of organized music and choral programs in the early 1960s. Their combined involvement represents an important chapter in the growth of community-based arts in what is now West Valley City.
Later in life, Sonja married Barry Stark and became a 35-year resident of the South Bay area of California, where she continued teaching violin privately for many years. She was also an accomplished club-level tennis player, active at the John Wayne Club, the West End Club, and the Jack Kramer Club.
Sonja Joanne Beyer Riem Stark passed away on February 21, 2014, in Redondo Beach, California, at the age of 83
