List of Tabernacle Choir music directors

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
Craig Jessop.
NameYearsNotes
John Parry1849–54Converted Welsh Baptist minister; organized the choir at the request of Brigham Young.[2]
Stephen Goddard1854–56–
James Smithies1856–62Also member of the Nauvoo Brass Band
Charles John Thomas1862–65First director to lead the choir in the current Salt Lake Tabernacle building in regular performances
Robert Sands1865–69Directed the choir for the first performance in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, 1867.[3]
George Careless1869–80[4]Had previously directed the Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra[5]
Thomas Griggs1880Appointed in absentia. Composer of the music to Gently Raise the Sacred Strain
Ebenezer Beesley1880–89[4]Composed 11 hymns, which are still included in the current LDS hymnal
Evan Stephens1890–1916[4]Directed the choir for its first recording, and was the first employed full-time.[2]
Anthony C. Lund1916–35[4]Directed the choir for its first national performance of Music and the Spoken Word on July 15, 1929.[2]
J. Spencer Cornwall1935–57[6]Directed the choir in the film This is Cinerama,[7] and for its first performance abroad in 1955.[2]
Richard P. Condie1957–74[6]1959 Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus for "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".[8]
Jay E. Welch1974[9]Served from July to December before retiring for personal reasons[9]
Jerold Ottley1974–99[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 Jessop1999–2008[11]Along with the choir, was a 2003 recipient of the National Medal of Arts[12]
Mack Wilberg2008–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

References
  1. "Mack Wilberg". Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Retrieved April 9, 2009.
  2. Miller, Roger L. (1994), "Mormon Tabernacle Choir", in Powell, Allan Kent (ed.), Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, ISBN 0874804256, OCLC 30473917
  3. Pyper, pg. 197
  4. Pyper, p. 202
  5. Maxwell, David (February 1984). "The Morning Breaks: George Careless, Musical Pioneer". Ensign. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  6. Porcaro, pg. 2
  7. Porcaro, pg. iii
  8. "The Lord's Prayer". Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  9. Porcaro, pg. 138
  10. Porcaro, pgs. 150, 314–15
  11. Arave, Lynn (March 28, 2008). "Mack Wilberg named new director of Tabernacle". Deseret News. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  12. "Lifetime Honors: National Medal of Arts". National Endowment for the Arts. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
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