Jessop was a member of the choir, back when he was 23. "I thought I'd reached my life's goal," he jokes. Little did he know that he'd one day be directing them.

Although he is building on a great tradition, "We are probably busier now than we've ever been," he says.

Already, he is looking forward to next year. "Our next CD will be a collection of Broadway and Hollywood songs. There will be big events in 2007 with the reopening of the Tabernacle. We're planning a major tour next summer."

But for now, there's Christmas. The choir is known for its wide repertoire. But, says Jessop, there is also something about Christmas music that brings out the very best.

"It goes back to the story of the birth of Jesus, to the angels singing — at least we like to think of it as singing. 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo' — that phrase has been set to music countless times, and it never loses its meaning."

Christmas comes during winter, of course, the darkest time of the year — and sometimes dark things are going on in the world.

"But the music gives us hope and promise. Singing is a joyous art. It's a vehicle that lets us express joy."

 · · · · · 

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual Christmas concert, which runs Thursday through Dec. 17 in the Conference Center, sold out a couple of hours after the 80,000 tickets were released on the Internet. However, a stand-by line will form 90 minutes before each concert at the North Gate of Temple Square for admission as space permits. For information, go to lds.org/events/info/0,8197,726-1-601,00.html.

---

E-mail: carma@desnews.com