Concert: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Keywords

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert Schedule

Chicago Gigs

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Album

Songs

Video

Music

Background:

This is large choir, that belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Since 15th, July, 1929, they have performed Music and the Spoken Word - a weekly radio broadcast. This is the oldest nationwide network broadcast in the United States of America, that is running continuously. The show is broadcast across the globe through 1,500 radio, television, and cable stations.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 325 men and women. All of whom are volunteers. It was called "America's Choir" by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. There are many husband-wife combinations. Choir member are restricted to twenty years of participation

The choir was established in August 1847, it is completely self-funded. Even the traveling and production of albums to support their organization are funded by them. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.

The recent director is Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw. He has made changes to improve the overall appeal of the choir. The minimum age for participation is from 30 to 25. "Temple Square Chorale" - training choir has to be attended by the new members.

From its first national tour in 1893, the have been making history with every tour. Some are:

Western Europe (1955, 1973, 1998)
Central America (1968, 1972)
The Far East (1979)
Brazil (1981)
Scandinavia (1982)
Japan (1985)
Australia/New Zealand (1988)
Central Europe and the former Soviet Union (1991)
Israel (1993)

Performed for Presidents

Lyndon Johnson (1965)
Richard Nixon (1969)
Ronald Reagan (1981)
George H.W. Bush (1989)
George W. Bush (2000)

Participated in events like:

Funeral services for U.S. Presidents
Franklin D. Roosevelt (April 12, 1945)
John F. Kennedy (November 24, 1963)
The American Bicentennial in Washington, D.C. (July 4, 1976)
The Constitution's bicentennial celebration at Constitution Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1987)
Opening ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics

Awards:

It has been the proud recipient of many awards including: National Medal of Arts (2003). it has been inducted to the National Broadcasters Association's hall of fame. Two Peabody Awards and the Freedom Foundation's "George Washington Award" was also credited to its fame. It got a Grammy for its 1959 recording of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

It has got five gold albums and two platinums. It has over 300 recordings. They have also performed with names like New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the newly formed

"Drifter" (Harris) - 4:48