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Tabernacle Choir Director Jessop resigns

Very interesting that he would resign. It shows the high positions may not be all that they are cracked up to be. I was suprised that he would quit like this only one month before Conference. Must have had tremendous pressure from the Wife and kids to be home.

This was indeed a shock for choir members. As a member of the choir for over 10 years I have long respected Dr. Jessop's leadership and vision as well as his musical expertise and energy. How we love him! We will miss his guidance, his vision, and his direction. I wish him great blessings with family and career, with the hope our paths will cross again many times in the future.

As a member of the Tabernacle Choir organization, I have had an opportunity to see Brother Jessop up close in action. He was a musical genius and a spiritual giant and will be missed by all of us!

Thanks, Craig!

Craig, you have been a great blessing to all of us. What energy and talent you have brought to your work. We will all miss you. The choir and orchestra has reached new heights under your able direction. Your moving musical performances have deeply touched our souls--very bit as much as powerful sermons. You've served well.

He is an amazing man and was the right man for the job. I wonder who will be able to handle the PR machine now that he's stepping down? Dr. Wilberg is not enamored of the spotlight (understatement).

Craig Jessop is one of the greatest men that I have ever known. I feel lucky to have been associated with the choir while he was the director. Tonight's announcement was certainly a shock to all those in the room. We will miss his energy, dedication, and constant positive attitude. I hope to work with him again someday.

NOOOOOOO!!!! Mack Wilberg is a brilliant composer, but Craig Jessop is who made the choir what it is today! The way that he seemingly caressed amazing sound out of the choir was absolutely incredible--I will miss him greatly.

Mack, you must be clairvoiant to be able to know what caused Jessop to resign. You should be a mult-millionaire by morning, using your powers(?).

What a shock. He was one of the finest choir
directors. I hope that he was treated fairley
by the leaders of the choir. The church and the
country needs people like him I wish him well.

As Brigham Young said of Joseph Smith - I want to jump up and shout for joy every time I think that I knew Craig Jessop in this life. I have known him since we were on a mission together in England 38 years ago and look forward to the day that we can share a room at the rest home together and reminisce in awe and wonder about our days together in the tabernacle choir.

Craig Jessop is charismatic, talented, an adroit & articulate public speaker and the quintessential choral conductor. He is the embodiment of great musicianship and the essense that encompasses the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

However, if this observer was to compares the richly deserved and ebullient praise John Longhurst received for several months after his retirement was announced to the abrupt resignation of Craig Jessop only one week after President Thomas Monson attended a weekly choir broadcast in the Tabernacle where Craig Jessop was conducting, one can only wonder whose toes he stepped on......

I can only say how sorry I am to see Craig leave the helm of the choir,I will miss him greatly and only wish him happiness and success in whatever in life he chooses to pursue. I am greatful for his leadership of what I along with countless millions of fans of the Tab Choir to be the finest Choir in the world.
Shaun Williams
Phoenix, Az

Brother Craig Jessop touched my heart and soul by his musical and spiritual guidance. His love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his testimony of the Savior, his sustaining of the Brethern, and his love of the gift of music will always be a JOY in my life. His appreciation for Brother Wilberg and their perfect blending of musical genius was inspiring. He has made the miracle of the Tabernacle Choir a reality in my life. I shall forever be grateful to him and Brother Wilberg for their great sacrifices to serve the Choir. Brother Jessop, may God bless you in all you do - you have truly blessed my life more than mere words can ever say. God be with you 'til we meet again.

Thank you so very much, Brother Jessop for your wonderful contribution to the heart and soul of the world. You have touched the hearts of so many with your interpretations of great music. Best wishes for your future endeavors. We love you very much.

The tabby choirs schedule is a killer. Not only the pratice schedule but the travel. And this is only what the choir members go through.
Let him be. Hey! Maybe he was given a calling and he can no longer be the director.... nah...
But the time constraints are long. If I have it correct, choir members are only allowed 5 years. he's been at it for 13 years.

Brilliant director. Let's appreciate and thank him not enter into speculation about his resignatio-no good will come of that!
I think the choir will go forward as it has consistently and will be directed in future with the same love as in the past.
God bless Brother Jessop for enduring those years of leadership. For the speculative souls amongst us, 13 years is a long time to spend in a leadership position, have you spent that time in a leadership position? Perhaps we forget the sacrifice of sustaining someone for that length of service?

Craig, we love you. Truly love is the right word. I have said it many times, to others in the choir,..."Craig is a great conductor, but an even greater spiritual leader." I have cherished every metaphor and similie given during rehursals. Your spiritual insight and testimony made you the director that we all love to follow. You and Mack were an unbeatable team. It is hard to imagine how we will carry on without you. Sunday morning, I expect an extra 360 names on the prayer roll and they will all say lovingly, "Craig Jessop". God bless you and your wonderful family. We have stollen you from them for long enough. Enjoy you grandkids and sweet wife. Again....we all love you.

Brother Jessop, we love you and we will miss you dearly. Whatever the reasons behind this decision, we wish you tremendous joy. It gives me great pleasure to think of all of the time you'll now have with your loving wife and family.

I applaud your decision to not elaborate tonight, thereby avoiding a mob of protest while the emotions were high and we were all in shock. We will all need some time for the news to sink in before we can think clearly about it. It would not have been fair to you to be faced with a barrage of questions during what was, I'm sure, one of the more difficult moments in your life.

I expect that when the time is right and we have all come to terms with this momentous change, we might be allowed further insight into its motivation. If not, please know that we will always love and sustain you. We will never be able to replace you. Carry our gratitude with you along your next journey. God bless you.

Oh, I am so disappointed!! Bro. Jessop is truly a genius and did so much for our wonderful Tabernacle Choir - I am speechless and hope that Bro. Wilberg can stay and continue to be the fantastic writer, arranger and director that he is - Good luck to Craig Jessop - wish there could be a way for him to reconsider!! From a forever fan of the choir......

Long time Fan of the tabernacle choir and Englsih at that,but feel sure that Brother Jessop done the right thing he will be missed, but has prayed and listen to the Lord, Families are important too, enjoy this time Brother Jessop, bless you for all you have done for music and for the church