Salt Lake City
July 1-7, 2013
We spent a week in Salt Lake City so Nancy could do some genealogy
research in the Family History Library. Since this is the home of the
Mormon Tabernacle Choir, we decided to attend their practice (open to
the public) and the recording session for their TV show, Music and the
Spoken Word. The choir is composed of 360 voices (about half men and
women) and a 110 piece orchestra. Choir members must be between 26 and
60 in age, and live within 100 miles of Salt Lake City. They are all
volunteers and commit to two practices per week and 75 performances per
year. They cannot serve in the choir more than 20 years. During the
summer they use the Conference Center; the rest of the year they use
the Mormon Tabernacle.
A practice session for the choir.
The Sunday morning performance for recording the TV show, Music and the
Spoken Word. The half hour program consisted of 7 pieces, including an
organ solo, and spoken words of inspiration, which focused on the
benefits of smiling and an upbeat outlook. It was a magnificent performance.
The "voice" part of Music and the Spoken Word is Lloyd Newell.
The choir conductor is Mack Wilberg.