Reader comments
'The Mormon Choir Tabernacle'

I took a friend to Temple square in the beginning of August. We were able to attend a rehersal for the choir while we were there. She had never seen the choir sing before, nor had she ever been in the Tabernacle. Although I had been there numerous times in the past, we were both impressed and really enjoyed out time there. The choir was again very impressive, and to see the effort put into achieve the "final product" is absolutely astonishing. I am proud to have been a part of the rehersal that Thursday evening.

I love all the info on our Choir! Thanks. We were wondering, do any of the workers or performers get paid?

Dan:

The conductors, organists, and some of the staff are paid because of the full- (or part-) time nature of their work.

However, all of the choir members and orchestra members are volunteers and are not paid, but have other vocational pursuits.

My father's childhood was in San Francisco in the early 1900s. He and my mother raised us on the West Side of Salt Lake City. (Redwood Road & North Temple)
Growing up I remember my father telling us how he listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in San Francisco every Sunday on the radio and how lucky we were to be so close to this wonderful music.
I am retired and live in Southern California and still listen to the Choir early 6:30 am on Sunday
mornings. Enjoying the Choir has been a part of my life for over 60 years!
Sincerely, Spencer Saito

It won't happen... for likely several reasons, tax implications being a part of it and PR the other... but I'd sure love to see the Choir's Christmas tickets require a "donation" of at least $5 per chair. They'd still sell out. I really don't like going to them for free. (Love the concerts, however.) I feel like a leech. Everyone who goes can afford $5. Then they could pay their performers something. They put in so much time. I believe in value given for value received.

Given the huge demand for the Tab Choir's Christmas concerts and the fact this year more people will not attend who want to, they ought to consider broadcasting one of the concerts on KBYU-FM for those of us who can't attend.

Now that we can hear the choir on Internet, no matter if we live far away, we can enjoy the wonderful music and also receive the true word of the Lord! We are so blessed!

Great story. I knew Craig Jessop when he was Lieutenant Colonel Jessup in the US Air Force and director of the USAF Heartland of America Band at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He was a class act then and inspired the troops with a great music program and fantastic musicians. He is doing the same today with a fantastic organization and superb musicians with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Thank you for a great story and a greater appreciation for what goes on "behind the scenes" from the directors/conductors to the musicians to the support staff. Regardless of one's religious beliefs, the choir exemplifies the teachings of Jesus Christ by providing a service that brings one to Christ through inspirational music. I for one always am uplifted whenever I listen to them in General Conference, on Music and the Spoken Word, on KZion, or on CD.

Extremely interesting reading. I have known Debra Gehris since I was 12yrs old. We started writing as pen pals at school and have kept in contact ever since. I have visited her in the USA a couple of times and the last time I saw her and David was for Brisbane Expo in 1988. A wonderful couple and I'm sure a real asset to the choir in their role as photographers.

Glenys Huls Brisbane, Australia

I want to give kudos to all the staff involved in preparing the stage with the flower arrangments. A lot of time goes into this work and they go un-noticed. They are a group of talented individuals who utilize those talents to ensure that all watching or present are able to not only feel the spirit through the performance, but through the atmosphere prepared by them. Way to go!

If you haven't heard the Tabernacle Choir in person, and if you get any opportunity to - even just for a rehearsal, DO IT. It's a far more powerful and exciting experience than from TV, radio, or CD player. Even so, I sometimes get emotional just listening to the CDs.

The Choir's versatility is unparalleled. They're famous for powerful crescendos in great works like "Battle Hymn of the Republic." But they're equally impressive in the softest a cappella passage. They can move you to tears with "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," or have you clapping along with folk songs like "Cindy."

I must confess I�m currently a member of the Choir. But I�ve been a fan since I was a child listening to them on the radio with my mother every week.

I was able to attend an open house and special concert for choir family members last summer. We got to tour the newly renovated tabernacle and I could picture in my mind the rooms described in this article.

My wife and I used to live in down town Salt Lake and we enjoyed walking to Temple Square, especially at Christmas. The Christmas concert was always a highlight and tradition for us. We live in Phoenix, AZ now but we like to attend the choir broadcast whenever we come to visit.

I wish the Christmas concerts were broadcast live on BYUTV so we could resume our tradition.

I always enjoy reading stories about the Choir and how they have blessed so many people with their beautiful music. I wonder if they will be coming on a Southern tour in the next few years. I do not recall that they have ever made an appearance in NC. I would gladly drive two hours to Raleigh NC if they should come there. May God bless all of you as the Choir has blessed our lives.

Could a person ever take a tour of the areas you have described? It is fascinating.

I listened to the broadcast while growing up in NYC. It always touched my heart and now years later as a convert to the Church I still am thrilled when I hear the choir singing. Have attended broadcasts when I lived in SLC and Sat. night watched Women's conference where they were playing before broadcast. It was truly moving and I didn't want to see it end. I do have many tapes in my collection and play them sometimes every day. I also wish the Christmas concerts were broadcast on BYUTV so I could see the broadcast. The music still brings tears to my eyes as I lose myself in the music.

I loved all the comments. What a wonderful choir. I often listen to them on the Internet on BYU. I am so excited to even have the opportunity to applaud them that I am just overcome with joy sitting here. Thanks for the beautiful music. I know of no other Choir that has a Prophet as an advisor. Never in all the scriptures. God Bless You All It will take us 12 hours to travel to conference but we hope to get in. We have no tickets. But it will be worth the wait in line.

The heartfelt music of the Tabernacle choir has changed my life in so many ways.

Several years ago, I lived in downtown Salt Lake City, not far from Temple Square. I was going through a deep period of depression found it difficult to even get out of bed and try to function. One of the few things I looked forward to was Sundays with the Tabernacle choir. The choir became such an important part of my life. I will never forget the way the choir's music changed my heart and healed my soul.

One specific Sunday-- Mother's Day-- They sang several songs, one of which was a stirring rendition of Shenandoah. Many times, I've looked back to remember that morning as one of the greatest moments of my life.

My husband and I have had the priviledge of traveling from New Hampshire to Saratoga Springs, NY, to hear the choir. Not only was the music great, but we enjoyed speaking with family members of the choir before the concert.Keep up singing the songs of Zion.

My Wife, Veronica along witb my son Stephen and grandson Samuel attended Music and the Spoken Word on April 15, we traveled from Farnham, England to visit our son in Bountiful. The tears of joy flowed. It was a marvelous performance finished by "God be with you til we meet again" which once again had the tear ducts working overtime. What a Wonderful Choir....

I have loved hearing the Choir sing since I was 17 and first heard a recording of them. It was through "Music and the Spoken Word" that I first came in contact with the missionaries, and at age 56,I was baptized and became a member of the Church. Thank you for your ministry through music. Keep singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", and "I Know that My Redeemer Lives". I look forward to hearing you live next spring when I will be in Salt Lake City for General Conference. May our Heavenly Father continue to use you to bring souls to His Kingdom.