On the road again ...

In spite of its voluntary character, there is certainly nothing amateurish about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The choir's professionalism is enviable, given that the 360 members come from all walks of life and backgrounds, and often travel long distances (some up to 165 miles) to come to Salt Lake City for weekly rehearsals and frequent concerts.

Musically, the choir shows a diversity of styles and genres that aren't often found among full-time professional ensembles. Hymns and folk and popular music stand side by side with works by Mahler and Brahms. And whether it's a Broadway show tune or Mahler's Symphony No. 8, the audience can be certain it will be treated to a memorable performance that will leave a lasting impression.

In addition to numerous concerts during the year, and the weekly "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcasts with the Orchestra at Temple Square in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the choir also travels regularly. Since its first performance outside of Utah in 1893, when it sang at the Chicago World's Fair, the choir has traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

On Monday, the choir leaves on a tour that will encompass several of the most influential summer music festivals in the eastern United States. Nearly three weeks in length, the trip will have the choir performing at the Interlochen Arts Festival in Michigan, Chautauqua and Saratoga Springs in New York, and Wolf Trap, outside of Washington, D.C. There will also be concerts in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Newark, N.J.; Philadelphia, and in New York City's Avery Fisher Hall.

The high point of the tour, however, will be performances with the Boston Pops during its traditional "Pops Goes the 4th!" outdoor concert, and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Tanglewood.

"This has been described as the most prestigious tour the choir has ever been on," said Barry Anderson, the choir's administrative manager. "We're going to all of the top outdoor festivals in the country, and also singing with the Boston Pops and the Boston Symphony."

This tour will also be a landmark event for the choir, since it will be the ensemble's debut at these festivals, as well as its first appearance with the two premiere orchestras of Boston. It was an invitation from Keith Lockhart to have the choir perform at the Boston Pops annual Fourth of July concert that provided the seed that eventually blossomed into this extended tour. (Lockhart is, of course, both conductor of the Boston Pops and music director for the Utah Symphony.)