Comments about ‘LDS raise voices in effort to join choir’

This is indeed the most terrifying experience ever. However, if you live through it and are chosen to be part of this incredible choir, it is a major highlight in your life. Not only do you enjoy the opportunity to perform, but you have the opportunity to increase your talent and abilities with the help of the wonderful conductors and staff members. I will be forever grateful that I had this experience.

I went through the audition process last year. The in-person audition was the most terrifying experience of my life--to have 5 minutes with two geniuses and spend it with me doing the talking and singing, not them. But it was one of the necessary hoops to jump through to reap the reward. Thankfully, I made it into the choir and it has been a glorious experience. It continues to be as hectic as all the auditions and the other hoops of the choir school that come after the auditions--that part doesn't change. But the fortunate chance of being able to be a small part of it all is by far worth it. Sublime music sung with the spirit with 360 people who are tremendous people besides being good singers. And to now be able to listen to Craig and Mack conduct and mold us into one great body of sound.

My father personally knew Gerald and Joan Ottley, one time Brother Ottley invited my father to sing in the Choir. I do not know any details, but if that was how it happened, how would it be. He didn't join the choir, he did not have the time, and if he were to have to audition today, he would not have had the technical knowledge to become a member. But I enjoyed my fathers singing at church and enjoy singing myself, due to him. I just have to say, I wish ward choirs would give one tenth of what the Mormon Tabernacle Choir gives, we would have an outstanding choir.

You think the audition is nerve-racking, try having your audition posted on the NY Times web site for all the world to hear! (DesNews only published the printed article.) I had my nerves under control until I saw this!
D. Asay

I listened to your MP3 and you sounded good. I can't believe they recorded your actual prayer, but I thought you did a good job. Good luck to you and it would be a neat follow up if you made it into the choir.

How wonderful for those brave enough to just try out. I think we all should be brave and try something new every year. You know keep those dreams alive.

What a marvelous culture that can provide such a wonderful performing group with such a wonderful spirit about them... And just think, this from only those members that live within 100 miles... I would absolutely love to be in the choir, but live well outside of the 100 mile radius. For those who do live close enough and actually do make the choir, relish that opportunity. You represent all of us who would like that opportunity, but for us it is not meant to be. Keep up the incredible work!

I was about 12 years old and was asked to attend a special sacrament meeting in our stake center for the choir while they were in Detroit performing.My assignment was to assist in passing the sacament during that sacred meeting.After the meeting there was a reception in the cultrual hall and I was invited to sit at the table of Alexander Shriener(spelling)I recall there were only four people at that table.Three people of grand importance and little ole deacon me!!!!!!!That is as close as I have ever been to sing WITH the choir in a sacrament meeting of one of which I will never forget.Im 61 years of age and still trying to master my skills at the organ. I'm doing better as I get older. Maybe Dr. A.S. had a little influence over me. I would like to think that is true.

Thank you to all who try out whether you make it this time or not. We should all be trying to be our best at whatever we do like you are. Don't give up.

My grandparents met when they were members of the Tabernacle Choir back in the early 1900's. Since that time I have always wondered what were the requirements for entering the choir. I have thought that sight reading difficult unknown passages of music and vocal gymnastics would be required, Thanks for a glimpse into the workings of a choir I love to listen to.

May God bless you all. From one who can not carrya tune in a bucket with a lid, I am so thinkful for you God blessed with a voice. The little children turn to look and stare when I dare to sing in the meetings and I am reminded that this is not my gift. I am so very happy that I have the ear to pick out individual singers in a group of such gifted people. You make such beatiful music inpraise of our Father. Keep singing in or out of the choir you never know just where your voice may call someone to a closer meeting with the Lord. Keep trying dreams do come true but in the Lords time not ours. God bless you all.

I love the choir and enjoy hearing members who have lovely voices sing in church. However, far too often we hear from members who think they are soloists when they are not. one lady had a terrible voice, but she had a music degree from byu so she thought that entitled her to sing solos frequently. heaven help us- she made a fool of herself. she'd be much better off singing with a choir where other good voices can drown hers out. I am grateful the MTC auditions their members. If they let just anyone sing who thought they were talented, much like we see in church, the choir would have no credibility instead of being the wonderful missionary tool that it is.

I have been in many choirs...some auditioned....some not. I have kind of always wanted to be in the MoTab Choir. In the south...that is pronounced...Quar....
I just can't pass the Bishop lettered LDS member requirement.......oh well....I do love the music!
I did however get to sing in the tabernacle...from one of the choir seats! Thanks to Sterling Poulson's community choir. That was fun....but a bit too early on a July 24th morning....I know my now retired High School music teacher in Idaho would have been proud....since he is LDS and an amazing bass singer.

Since I was young I dreamed of singing in the Tabernacle Choir. Living in Ca. doesn't allow me to have that dream. Thank you for letting us in on how the auditons work and what goes on in the choir. I have 27 more years to make it to Utah, live there and auditon, until then I think I should really give the ward choir a chance. =)

How wonderful to read about these brave and daring souls. The Choir is absolutely phenomenal and so beautiful. My wife has a gorgeous voice and would have had a good chance of being in the choir, but living in CA did not permit that. Now she is out of the age range.

Go for it!

Devin...Thanks for your comment. What a crackup to READ all about your own audition. Hope the nerves have settled now. :o)

I have not auditioned (I am like the little angel in the 'Forgotten Carols') however, I have had the opportunity to sit beside Craig Jessop in the tabernacle as Bonnie sat at the organ. I was living in Utah at the time (about 8 yrs ago) and my family came over to visit. I have two down syndrome brothers. One who loves to conduct and one who plays the piano. After a choir practise one day we were ushered in the back doors and sat in the choir seats and sang one or two Christmas carol with Bro Jessop while Bradley conducted and Andrew played the organ with Bonnie at his side. Those few people who were touring the tabernacle sat and listened and clapped when we finished our song.

PRECIOUS memories.

"You think the audition is nerve-racking, try having your audition posted on the NY Times web site for all the world to hear! (DesNews only published the printed article.) I had my nerves under control until I saw this!
D. Asay"

Good luck Devin. I hope you make it. I know you can.

I was one of the 300 who didn't make it past the first cut. *sob* I will be too old to audition next year, so I will continue to enjoy the choir as I always have, from the audience. But if I ever again meet Craig Jessop on an airplane, as I once did, he's gonna get a rolled-up newspaper on the back of his head... as he once gave me! ;^) With due respect to Gerald Ottley, Craig has done amazing things with the choir since taking the reins. You can actually understand them now!

Devin, On behalf of every one of us who auditioned last week, thank you for your lovely prayer (who knew we would all get to actually hear it?). best of luck to you!

Thank heaven I DID NOT know we were being recorded - the reporters and cameras in the room were quite enough for my blood pressure!

For what it is worth, this was a very carefully planned private experience! A small handful of persons, sworn to deepest secrecy knew that I was venturing down this audition path. I planned to quietly walk along through the process as far as I could and see if my offering was acceptable. I reassured myself many times with the fact that there wasn't any pressure, and certainly no need to be terrified since NO ONE would ever be the wiser if I failed....

I forgot to factor in our Father in Heaven's sense of humor!

He certainly got me good.

:-)

- Holly Abel

Thank you for putting your heart and soul into this. I'm sorry your stories' being published made you more nervous, but it was awfully delightful to get a real-life, human feel to what it must be like to actually audition. I'd never in a million years qualify to join the Choir, but appreciate those who do. I wish you the best and hope all turns out well for you. Whatever happens, keep singing!