List of Tabernacle Choir music directors
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The music director of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square is responsible for musical and creative supervision of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, the Orchestra at Temple Square, the Temple Square Chorale, and the Bells on Temple Square, which are all official musical organizations within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[1] Part of a group of 85 Welsh converts that immigrated in 1849, John Parry was invited by Brigham Young to organize a choir for the church's next general conference.[2]
Directors
| Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| John Parry | 1849–54 | Converted Welsh Baptist minister; organized the choir at the request of Brigham Young.[2] |
| Stephen Goddard | 1854–56 | – |
| James Smithies | 1856–62 | Also member of the Nauvoo Brass Band |
| Charles John Thomas | 1862–65 | First director to lead the choir in the current Salt Lake Tabernacle building in regular performances |
| Robert Sands | 1865–69 | Directed the choir for the first performance in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, 1867.[3] |
| George Careless | 1869–80[4] | Had previously directed the Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra[5] |
| Thomas Griggs | 1880 | Appointed in absentia. Composer of the music to Gently Raise the Sacred Strain |
| Ebenezer Beesley | 1880–89[4] | Composed 11 hymns, which are still included in the current LDS hymnal |
| Evan Stephens | 1890–1916[4] | Directed the choir for its first recording, and was the first employed full-time.[2] |
| Anthony C. Lund | 1916–35[4] | Directed the choir for its first national performance of Music and the Spoken Word on July 15, 1929.[2] |
| J. Spencer Cornwall | 1935–57[6] | Directed the choir in the film This is Cinerama,[7] and for its first performance abroad in 1955.[2] |
| Richard P. Condie | 1957–74[6] | 1959 Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus for "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".[8] |
| Jay E. Welch | 1974[9] | Served from July to December before retiring for personal reasons[9] |
| Jerold Ottley | 1974–99[6] | Directed the choir for numerous commercial recordings, including one with The United States Air Force Band that required special legislation in Congress to permit the Band to be published.[10] |
| Craig Jessop | 1999–2008[11] | Along with the choir, was a 2003 recipient of the National Medal of Arts[12] |
| Mack Wilberg | 2008–present[11] | A published composer who directed choirs at Brigham Young University.[11] |
Works cited
- Porcaro, Mark David. Secularization of the Repertoire of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 1949-1992. University of North Carolina, 2006
- Pyper, George D. Stories of Latter Day Saint Hymns Their Authors and Composers. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-4179-6856-7