Mormon Tabernacle Choir Tours with a Twist

Twists, turns and surprises prove that “America’s Choir” isn’t only for grandmothers.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square proved to be an unstoppable force while on tour in the Eastern United States and Canada this past week. The choir performed seven concerts in seven days, sharing a broad style of music including spirituals, classics, patriotic numbers, American folk songs and international pieces. Touring allowed thousands of people to hear their beautiful music in person.

Dabbling in the fun was the more somber hope that the choir’s music would influence people for the better.

“That’s my hope,”  said Scott Barrick, the Choir’s general manager, in an email. “That they will experience wonderful feelings from the music of the choir and orchestra and that it will influence their lives for good.”

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The week-long tour was sprinkled with surprises from guest singers and multiple guest conductors of the encore piece, “This Land is Your Land.”  The choir also took time to recognize sacrifices of current and past military in attendance and finished its tour with President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the audience.

 

Barrick said President Monson isn’t the only General Authority involved in the tour.

“Elder Jay Jensen, President of the Seventy, is traveling with the Choir,” Barrick said.  “At each of the receptions we’ve held he has encouraged those in attendance to pay attention to the feelings that they have in their hearts as they listen to the Choir.”

Randy Gailey, a singer in the choir from Syracuse, had similar sentiments.

“I would hope our singing lifts the downtrodden and gives faith to those who hope for a better way of living,” he said. “The greatest blessing for choir service is having the privilege of watching the power behind the music work a change in the hearts of those who listen.”

Along with the tour, the choir is also celebrating its new album release, “This Is the Christ.” According to a news release, the new CD recently hit No. 1 on the classical traditional chart and, for the first time ever, reached No. 1 on the Current Contemporary Christian Chart.

“This Is the Christ” focuses on Jesus Christ. The music seems to send a message of peace and good will.  The album includes songs inspired by scriptures as well as classic favorites.

“The music on this CD is so focused on the Savior,” Barrick said.  “It provides inspiration and comfort as you listen to all these various songs about various facets of his ministry.”