BYU Faculty And Staff Spread Gospel Through Song

By Reece Hanzon

Eric Huntsman was driving to Salt Lake one Saturday evening to participate in the second performance of his first concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir when his phone rang; his wife was in labor with their second child. He immediately turned around and drove to the hospital.

The next morning, his wife sent him to sing in the weekly broadcast of 'Music and the Spoken Word,' a program that has aired since 1929 and is seen or heard on more than 2,000 stations.

Huntsman is among the 360 men and women in the Tabernacle Choir. They are called to serve as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are set apart by choir President Mac Christensen.

They normally rehearse twice on Thursday night and then Sunday morning before the broadcast each week. Often, however, they also rehearse on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons (on conference weekends). Over the course of a year, or even a month, that adds up to a lot of time.

'It''s just like any other demanding calling,' said Huntsman, an assistant professor of ancient scripture at BYU.

Jesse Crisler, a BYU English professor and four-year choir member, estimated that the choir had rehearsed nearly 190 times in 2005. And that wasn''t counting the choir''s summer Northwestern Tour.

That''s a lot of time devoted to a calling. Of course, for choir members who don''t live in Salt Lake City, like those who work at BYU, the time requirement is even greater.

'We allow ourselves an hour and 10 minutes from the time we meet our carpool until it officially starts,' Crisler said. 'That gives us a good cushion.'

And these choir rehearsals are nothing like the average ward or stake choir rehearsal. Director Craig Jessop and Associate Director Mack Wilberg come prepared with minute-by-minute agendas of how each rehearsal should proceed.

Choir members are expected to know each song before rehearsals begin so the directors can concentrate on fine-tuning each number.

Eric Huntsman said choir members are also required to memorize a lot more of the material than ever before.

Even so, the experience is far from drudgery.

'Our directors have an agenda. They are both very organized,' Crisler said. 'It''s no nonsense, but you don''t have that feeling of pressure.'

Choir members can still laugh and joke, as long as they don''t get off track, and just enjoy being together and making music.

'We''re very friendly,' said Cecilia Fielding, second alto in the choir for 19 years who is the YNews editor in University Communications. 'I know all the women in my section.'

Of course, getting to know people outside her section hasn''t been quite so easy.

'There are not a lot of opportunities to socialize,' Crisler said. 'You''re there to do a job.'

The best ways to meet other choir members are through carpools, BYU employees spend at least six hours commuting to and from rehearsals, and traveling tours.

Choir members travel on 10 charter buses and share rooms throughout each tour. But bus seats change, roommates change and it is never certain who will travel with whom.

'You may not know them personally very well, but you develop a spiritual connection,' Crisler said, comparing the experience to teaching a missionary lesson.

Being in the choir doesn''t come without rewards, however. Choir members always have memorable experiences and learning opportunities associated with the calling.

Eric Huntsman said his fondest memory with the choir was the week before his first general conference as a choir member.

He said they didn''t begin rehearsing the music for the conference until that week, but the directors weren''t concerned.

Instead of emphasizing the normal preparations, the directors asked the choir members to prepare themselves spiritually, suggesting they fast, look for service opportunities and attend the temple before conference.

The directors said spiritual preparation was more important than anything else they could do.

Cecilia Fielding''s fondest memories of the choir were singing in the Olympics and especially at the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple. She said the temple dedication was particularly special.

Jesse Crisler''s favorite memory was of the choir''s trip to New York and singing on the 'Today Show.' The weather was rainy and nearly ruined the performance. Fortunately, Crisler''s wife, Lou Anne, also a choir member, led the choir in an impromptu performance of 'Singing in the Rain' complete with hand gestures to help those who didn''t know all the words.