By Nathaniel Casper
Church officials named former BYU professor Mack Wilberg as interim director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Tuesday night amid speculation surrounding the resignation of former director Craig Jessop.
Jessop, who took the reigns of the choir in 1999, stepped down just weeks before the choir''s annual Easter concert and left many wondering why.
Jessop has dedicated countless hours to the choir in his almost nine years as director. During his tenure, the choir founded its own recording label, released 38 CDs, and instituted a training choir and schooling process for prospective members.
'I now find myself at a major crossroads of life,' Jessop told the choir Tuesday, reading from a prepared statement. 'With long and prayerful consideration I have decided to resign as director of the choir. I look forward to new challenges and opportunities, and I intend to keep active in the musical world including teaching - the career that I originally began my musical journey. RaNae and I and our family are looking forward to spending more time together with our children and grandsons.'
'I cannot even imagine the burden of that position,' said Rosalind Hall, director of the BYU Men''s Chorus and Concert Choir. 'Their schedule is punishing, and they have set an extremely high standard for themselves, which must always be maintained.'
Nathan Wright, a member of the Tabernacle Choir who works in the BYU choral department, said choir members were astounded by the announcement.
'Week after week, regardless of the pressure or the strain of what had to be done, Brother Jessop stepped to the podium with incredible, unbelievable optimism and energy,and he infused that same energy into every member of the orchestra and choir,' Wright said. He was also impressed by Jessop''s spirituality.
'You could see it in his eyes and you could feel it every time he spoke to you, he said.
When the choir seemed distracted, or was dragging, Jessop never hesitated to pause and share an uplifting thought or scripture with them, Wright said. Jessop was a source of strength as well as a director.
The weight of that position now falls to Mack Wilberg.
As Wilberg stepped to the podium at Thursday night''s rehearsal, Wright said the choir fell silent, anxiously awaiting word from their new leader.
Wilberg told the choir of his great friendship with Jessop and his sadness at the resignation, and then shared a heartfelt testimony and began what Wright described as a fruitful and focused rehearsal.
'I walked into the rehearsal feeling very anxious and unsettled,' he said, but after hearing Wilberg''s testimony and feeling the spirit of the choir, he 'walked away feeling very at peace and knowing that the mission of the choir has not changed and that the work will go on.'