Artist description The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is one of the best-known, best-loved musical organizations anywhere. It has been referred to as “America’s Choir” (Ronald Reagan); “a national treasure” (George Bush); and “the world’s greatest choir” (Eugene Ormandy). Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors attend the Choir’s weekly public rehearsals and broadcasts on Temple Square—often filling the Tabernacle to capacity, especially during peak tourist seasons. Nearly five million people from around the globe visit Temple Square each year. Many of them—whether on business, attending conferences, skiing Utah’s celebrated powder snow, or simply as tourists—plan their visits to coincide with the Choir’s activities. The 325 choir members participate without pay as a service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors the Choir. Year in and out, these dedicated singers come at least twice a week to the Tabernacle for their regular Thursday evening rehearsals and Sunday morning broadcasts. However, special concerts, concert tours, recordings, and other activities cause these volunteers to report for duty an average of 150 times per year. Despite the rigorous and demanding schedule, choir member resignations are few and far between, and there is a sizeable list of aspirants waiting to audition for membership in the Choir. The minimum age is 30. Maximum participation is to 60 years of age or 20 years’ tenure, whichever occurs first. The Choir’s ranks include businessmen, homemakers, educators, government employees, farmers, and a broad spectrum of other professions and occupations. Although the Choir is technically not a professional ensemble, its individual choir members’ credentials are impressive. Most have an extensive singing and choral background. The bottom line is a talented, dedicated, loyal, and congenial group of singers with one goal—to share their joy and happiness by singing praises to a loving Father in Heaven and lifting the spirits of others through stirring performances and good music. The Choir’s first major concert tour took place in 1893 when a special train carried the singers to the Colombian Exposition in Chicago. Since that time, the Choir has made numerous national and international tours, singing in New York City, Chicago, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, Toronto, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Tel Aviv, Budapest, Tokyo, Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Prague, Warsaw, and Zurich. Virtually adopted as the Choir of Presidents, the Tabernacle Choir has performed at inaugurations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson (1965), Richard M. Nixon (1969), Ronald Reagan (1981), and George Bush (1989).

Music Style vocal orchestra

Artist History Dr. Craig D. Jessop was appointed Music Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City in December 1999, having served as Associate Director for five years. His rich background in the world of professional music, both as conductor and vocalist, ushers in a new era for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. A native of Millville, Utah, he holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Utah State University, Master of Arts from Brigham Young University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree from Stanford University. Prior to his appointment with the Tabernacle Choir, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force music programs. His assignments included Director of the USAF Singing Sergeants in Washington, D.C., 1980-1987; Commander/Conductor of the USAF Band in Europe, 1987-1991; and Commander/Conductor of the Air Combat Command Heartland of America Band, 1991-1995. Dr. Jessop has also served as Music Director of the Maryland Choral Society, the Rhineland-Pfalz International Choir of Germany, and the Omaha Symphonic Chorus. In addition to his work as conductor, Dr. Jessop has been an active baritone vocalist and has performed in the choirs of Helmuth Rilling, John Rutter, and for seven years in the Robert Shaw Festival Singers.

Group Members Dr. Craig Jessop, conductor Mormon Tabernacle Choir Orchestra at Temple Square

Albums The Sound of Glory, A Mormon Tabernacle Christmas, Brahms: Requiem

Location Salt Lake City, UT - USA

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