Mormon Tabernacle Choir

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Since July 15, 1929, the choir has performed a weekly radio broadcast called Music and the Spoken Word which is the oldest continuous nationwide network broadcast in the United States of America. The show has been televised since the early 1960s and is now broadcast worldwide through some 1,500 radio, television, and cable stations.

Related Topics:
Choir - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - July 15 - 1929 - Radio broadcast - Music and the Spoken Word - United States of America - 1960s - Television - Cable stations

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Called "America's Choir" by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 325 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.

Related Topics:
U.S. President - Ronald Reagan

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The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.

Related Topics:
1847 - Mormon Pioneers - Salt Lake Valley

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Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include reigning in the sopranos' vibrato and reducing the minimum age for participation from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members must first complete a tour of duty in the "Temple Square Chorale" training choir, led by associate director and famed composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.

Related Topics:
Craig Jessop - Robert Shaw - Mack Wilberg

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