The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The 360 all-volunteer Mormon Tabernacle Choir is one of the world’s most renowned choirs. Established soon after the Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, the Choir celebrates its 75 anniversary of broadcasting this year. From its inception in 1847, it has risen to international prominence through its national and international tours, its weekly broadcasts on CBS Radio and Television, and its many recording for CBS and Columbia Records. With more than 150 recordings, five having achieved Gold Record status, the Choir is the largest selling recorded choir in the world. Among its many awards are the Grammy and a Public Service Peabody Award. The choir has performed for 10 presidents, including six inaugurals. After its performance at President Reagan’s inauguration inn 1981, the President dubbed it “America’s Choir.” More than 3.5 billion TV viewers saw the Choir perform at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Craig Jessop
Music Director, Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Craig Jessop was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in December 1999, after having served as the Choir’s associate director since 1995. In addition to his duties as leader of the Choir, Jessop also oversees the Orchestra at Temple Square and the Temple Square Chorale, companion organizations to the Choir formed in 1999. Jessop sang for the choir for four years while attending Utah State University and Brigham Young University. He received his doctor of music arts degree from Stanford University. In addition to his work as a conductor, Dr. Jessop has been active as a baritone vocalist, first as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and later with the choirs of Helmut Rilling and John Rutter and with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers. Before his appointment with the Choir Dr. Jessop was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force music programs.

Frederica Von Stade
Described by the New York Times as “one of America’s finest artists and singers,” Frederica von Stade remains at the peak of her extraordinary career and continues to be extolled as one of the music world’s most beloved figures. Known to family, friends and fans by her nickname, “Flicka,” the mezzo-soprano has enriched the world of classical music for three decades.

Frederica von Stade’s career has taken her to the stages of the world’s greatest opera houses and concert halls. She has appeared with every leading American opera company and has had an impressive career in Europe as well. She is invited regularly to appear in concert with the world’s leading orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, and the Orchestra of La Scala.

In 1983 she was honored by President Ronald Reagan in recognition of her significant contribution to the arts. She was awarded France’s highest honor in the arts in 1998. Miss von Stade appears regularly on television, through numerous PBS and other broadcasts. She has appeared with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir twice before, most recently during the Cultural Olympiad of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel is a born entertainer. He has performed in settings as diverse as the Millennium Stadium before a rugby match and on the stage of the Royal Opera House and the New York Met. Breaking barriers is crucial to Bryn, who was born and raised in Northern Wales, where he was singing onstage in Eisteddfod singing competitions by the age of four. He graduated from London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and in 1989 he won the Lieder Prize in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

He has appeared in all the major opera houses in the world and has recorded several award-winning CDs. In 2003 he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the opera by Queen Elizabeth II. His repertoire includes a diverse range of music from opera to German lieder to his beloved Welsh songs.

Bryn loves music’s ability to uplift, move, touch and communicate and he enjoys breaking the rules. In fact, he says that there are no rules that have been handed down by Mozart, or Rodgers and Hammerstein, or Lerner and Loewe. He makes everything his own, with a bass-baritone voice that is more distinctive than perhaps any of his contemporaries.

Mack Wilberg
Associate Director, Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Dr. Mack Wilberg was appointed director of the Temple Square Chorale and associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in May 1999. Wilberg is the former director of choral activities at Brigham Young University, where he conducted the Concert Choir and the 240-voice Men’s Chorus. In addition to his conducting responsibilities, he taught graduate and undergraduate music courses at BYU. Wilberg is an active concert pianist, chamber musician, clinician, composer, arranger and guest conductor throughout the United States and abroad. His compositions and arrangements are consistently performed and recorded throughout the world and published by Oxford University Press and Hinshaw Music. Wilberg received his master’s and doctorate of musical arts degrees from the University of Southern California.

The Orchestra at Temple Square
The Orchestra at Temple Square frequently accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The 110-member all-volunteer companion organization was created in 1999 as the standing orchestra of the Choir. Previously, the Choir had been accompanied by such acclaimed instrumental groups as the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Utah Symphony. The Orchestra at Temple Square has developed into a nationally recognized symphony orchestra in its own right. Under the direction of Craig Jessop, Music Director, the Orchestra functions concurrently as a concert orchestra and as a companion volunteer organization to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Temple Square Chorale.