Mormon Tabernacle Choir takes home Emmy for the first time in 26 years

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The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs in the Tabernacle and the Conference Center, as well as at a number of other venues around the world. (Photo courtesy http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/)
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its YouTube channel. More than five million people have accessed the channel, where 612 videos have been posted throughout the year.
Christie Winterton, a member of the choir, said one of the choir’s main goals is to reach a younger audience. The choir has expanded its social outreach by maintaining Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook accounts featuring choir-specific updates and information.
Winterton said the choir has focused on its younger audience in a number of other areas as well.
“That’s one of the reason we had David Archuleta a few years ago,” she said.
In addition to reaching a younger audience, the YouTube channel has attracted viewers from 226 countries, according to an article in the Deseret News, proof that the choir is attracting an audience from all over the world.

The choir also recently took home an Emmy award — its first in 26 years — at the 2013 Rocky Mountain Emmy event Oct. 19. The Emmy was awarded to Mack Wilberg, director of the choir, as well as six BYU broadcasting executives for their PBS television broadcast of “The Joy of Song” concert, featuring Welsh vocal artist Katherine Jenkins.

Jenkins performed during the Pioneer Day commemoration concert in 2012. Winterton remembers it as a special event.
“That concert was wonderful,” Winterton said. “The annual Pioneer Day commemoration concert has become a big deal where they bring in a lot of celebrities and stars to be a part of that.”
Jenkins was one of the celebrities brought to participate. A finalist on the popular television show “Dancing with the Stars,” Jenkins’ impressive performance led to the creation of the PBS broadcast of the performance.
“She is so talented,” Winterton said.
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