The historical 360-member Mormon Tabernacle Choir began shortly after the pioneers landed in the Valley of the Salt Lake in Utah, and they've been singing ever since.  Comprised of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Choir has been touring the world, sharing their hymns of hope and inspiration.  Nicknamed "America's Choir," their  long, long list of performances  include 13 of the world's fairs and expositions, worldwide telecasts, as well as the inaugurations of presidents such as Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr. and George W. Bush.  The Choir also keeps up its weekly network radio broadcast "Music and the Spoken Word," which has been running for 78 years, making it the longest-running network radio program in the world.   In total, they have released over 150 albums, 5 of which reached gold status, and 2 reached platinum.   The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has also earned many prestigious awards including a Grammy for "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," an Emmy award for the television program "Christmas Sampler," and the coveted Peabody Award for its CBS production "Let Freedom Ring." They continue to amaze audiences across the world ... read full bio

Less than a month after the Mormon pioneers arrived in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley in 1847, a small choir was gathered to sing for a church meeting.  That was the beginning of what has become the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Today, composed of 360 volunteer voices, the Choir continues to serve as a musical ambassador for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The Choir is heard by millions worldwide through television, radio, satellite and Internet broadcasts, concert tours, and recordings.

Since its first tour to Chicago in 1893, the Choir has traveled extensively across the United States and abroad.  It has performed throughout Europe and in music capitals from Israel and Russia to Japan and Australia.  Its travels have also included performances at the inaugurations of six U.S. presidents.  The Choir has performed at North America’s most prestigious outdoor music festivals, including Interlochen, Ravinia, Chautauqua, Wolf Trap, and Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and has also appeared with the Boston Pops.  With the Utah Symphony, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed for over 3.5 billion people during the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.  The Choir also presented four heralded concerts as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

More than 175 recordings have showcased the Choir from the early days of long-playing records to modern digital compact discs and DVDs.  The group’s 1959 release of The Lord’s Prayer featuring “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” recorded with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, won a Grammy award, and its 2007 release, Spirit of the Season, was nominated for two Grammy awards.  The Choir has also earned five gold and two platinum records.  It was awarded the National Medal of Arts and has been inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame.  Renowned guest artists who have appeared with the Choir include Leonard Bernstein, John Williams, Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Frederica von Stade, The King’s Singers, Audra McDonald, The Canadian Brass, Angela Lansbury, Gladys Knight, Roma Downey, James Stewart, Charles Osgood, and Walter Cronkite.  The Choir has its own recording label—Mormon Tabernacle Choir®—whose releases include a number of excellent CD and video products. 

The Choir’s weekly Music and the Spoken Word program has established an unparalleled record of continuous network broadcasting.  Heard each week since 1929, the program features musical selections by the Choir, accompanied by the magnificent Tabernacle organ, interspersed with inspirational readings.  Originating from the venerable Mormon Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, the broadcast is carried on radio, television, and cable networks across the country and around the world.

Mack Wilberg became music director of the Choir in March 2008, after serving for nearly a decade as associate music director.  A former professor of choral music at Brigham Young University, Dr. Wilberg is one of the preeminent composers and arrangers of choral music in America.  Ryan Murphy was named associate music director in March 2009.  Dr. Murphy’s background includes work at the New England Conservatory of Music, Tanglewood Summer Festival and at the Tuachan Theatre and Sundance Institute in Utah.

Last updated November 2009. Contact Opus 3 Artists for the most up-to-date version.