Tabernacle Choir

This article is about the choir in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, see Brooklyn Tabernacle.
The Tabernacle Choir
at Temple Square
Choir
Logo of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
OriginSalt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
FoundedAugust 22, 1847; 177 years ago (1847-08-22)
GenreWorship, classical, religious, gospel
Members360
Music directorMack Wilberg[1][2]
AffiliationThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Associated groupsOrchestra at Temple Square, Temple Square Chorale, Bells at Temple Square
AwardsNational Medal of Arts
American Classical Music Hall of Fame
NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame
1x Grammy Award
2x Peabody Awards
3x Emmy Awards
Websitewww.thetabernaclechoir.org
The Tabernacle Choir and West Point Band performing "Battle Hymn of the Republic".
"Come, Come Ye Saints"
Text written by William Clayton in 1846. Performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and Orchestra at Temple Square in 2008.
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"I Believe in Christ"
Text written by Bruce R. McConkie in 1972 with music written by John Longhurst in 1985. Performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and Orchestra at Temple Square in 2007. [Note also in 2008]
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"Sunrise, Sunset"
From "Fiddler on the Roof". Written in 1964 with music by Jerry Bock and text by Sheldon Harnick. Performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and Orchestra at Temple Square in 2007.
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The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for over 100 years.[3] Its weekly devotional program, Music & the Spoken Word, is one of the longest-running radio programs in the world, having aired every week since July 15, 1929.[4]

The choir was founded on August 22, 1847, shortly after the Mormon pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. Prospective singers must be LDS Church members who are eligible for a temple recommend, be between 25 and 55 years of age at the start of choir service, and live within 100 miles (160 km) of Temple Square.

The Tabernacle Choir is one of the most famous choirs in the world.[5][6] It first performed for a U.S. president in 1911, and has performed at the inaugurations of presidents Lyndon B. Johnson (1965), Richard Nixon (1969), Ronald Reagan (1981), George H. W. Bush (1989), George W. Bush (2001), and Donald Trump (2017).[7]

  1. ^ "Mack Wilberg Music Director".
  2. ^ Larson, Jennifer (2008-03-28). "Mack Wilberg is officially named Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director". Deseret News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  3. ^ Carma Wadley (2010-06-13). "Mormon Tabernacle Choir celebrates 100 years of memorable recordings". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  4. ^ Eyre, Aubrey (14 July 2019). "A look at the 90 year impact of 'Music and the Spoken Word' — the longest running continuous radio program". Church News. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  5. ^ Montero, David (5 October 2018). "One of the most famous singing groups in the world is changing its name. So long, Mormon Tabernacle Choir". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  6. ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher (5 October 2018). "The famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a new name". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  7. ^ Zauzmer, Julie (22 December 2016). "The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will sing at Trump's inauguration". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 September 2019.