Location:
Downtown
Phone:
801-240-3221
Hours:
Thursday
8:00 – 9:30pm
Sunday
9:30 am
Official Site
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Overview
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir can trace their beginnings back to the days when pioneers would break up the monotony of the trail west to Salt Lake valley with song, over a century ago. Singing hymns nightly around campfires became a tradition, and the pioneers officially formed a choir in August of 1847, a month after entering the valley.
Today, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is comprised of 335 men and women. For many it is a family tradition, with two or more generations of choir membership. Choir members do not receive monetary compensation for their performances.
The choir has grown into one of the most respected musical organizations in the world, and has received numerous awards including a Grammy for its rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, five gold records and one platinum record. They have appeared at four presidential inaugurations and in several films. They have performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Since the choir made its first phonograph record in 1910, it has produced more than 150 recordings. The choir also performs each week via “Music and the Spoken Word,” the longest running network radio program of its type. The “Spoken Word” has also been televised since the early 1960s.
Visitors can hear the Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir at free performances inside the Tabernacle on Historic Temple Square on Thursdays and Sundays. The performance from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. is a rehearsal but is open to the public. On, Sunday the Tabernacle doors open at 8:15 a.m. for the broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word.” The program begins at 9:30 a.m. and the audience must be seated by 9:15 a.m. to avoid interrupting the broadcast.
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