• Von Stade had been to Salt Lake City twice before — to do a Tanner Gift of Music concert and for the Olympics. "She was generous in every way. She also played a pivotal part in our getting Bryn. She called and told him he needed to work with us."

• McDonald was introduced to the choir by Utah Symphony director Keith Lockhart. "She's a four-time Tony winner, and she's phenomenal. She brought the house down."

Other artists have appeared at the annual Christmas concerts, as well. "Walter Cronkite, I had worked with in the Air Force Band, but asking him was Mack's idea. When we called — bam! He said yes! He didn't even have to think about it. We wanted him as a narrator, but word came down that he would kind of like to conduct. So, we thought, how about the 'Hallelujah Chorus.' He loved it. It was also fun to see him with (LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley), asking each other how old they were."

This year's annual concert, which takes place this weekend, will feature Sissel, the Norwegian singing sensation who appeared on the choir's weekly broadcast in 2005 in connection with Norway's 100th anniversary of independence.

The choir's Christmas concerts have received a lot of acclaim over the years. "We have partnered with KUED to have them aired on PBS. Last year, our concert was PBS' highest-rated broadcast," says Jessop.

Part of that has been because of the quality of the artists they had, he says. "They've been great artists, and they've been great people. They've left here our friends for life."

Jessop is quick to credit Wilberg and his skill at arranging music for a lot of their success. He's their secret weapon, says Jessop. "He's what we have going for us. A Mack Wilberg comes around once every century."

The reason the two men get along so well, adds Jessop, it that they are both country boys at heart. "One of us (Jessop) is from Millville, the other (Wilberg) from Castle Dale, so we speak the same language. Plus, we both have strong mothers, Dortha and Helen. They don't mind telling us if they don't approve. I joke with the choir that we're singing for the mothers of Millville."

Jessop is also quick to point out that working and recording with celebrities is a long-standing Mormon Tabernacle Choir tradition. "It goes back to the days of Richard Condie, when they recorded with Eugene Ormandy and Leonard Bernstein. So, it's not just our era. The orchestra has added a whole new dimension, but the stature of the choir was established, and the caliber of artists has always been the world's greatest. We'd be remiss if we didn't acknowledge that."

The choir itself "is just amazing. These people come from all walks of life. All volunteers. But they are not just singing with their voices. They sing with their hearts and souls."