MTC Week #134 - King's Singers & Tour Thoughts

The challenge before me in writing this blog post is that I have so much to say! But I think I'll divide all of my thoughts into two segments so as to not be overwhelmed and to not make this too long.

I'll start with the here and now and then go back in time.

This weekend we had the privilege of singing with the internationally acclaimed King's Singers as we presented our Pioneer Day Concert and our Music and the Spoken Word program this morning. A little bit about them:  The King's Singers were founded in 1968, named after the King's College in Cambridge, England. Since that time, singers from this ensemble have come and go. But today, the group is comprised of the following:
 
David Hurley (countertenor 1) – (since 1990)
Tim Wayne-Wright (countertenor 2) – (2009)
Julian Gregory (tenor) – (2014)
Chris Bruerton (baritone 1) – (2012)
Chris Gabbitas (baritone 2) – (2004)
Jonathan Howard (bass) – (2010)

We thoroughly enjoyed hearing them sing this weekend. For me, the highlight was hearing them sing a collection of primary songs arranged by Ryan Murphy. Truly delightful with tight harmonies and honest emotions! The older I grow, the more I come to appreciate these simple primary songs that remind me of my cherished beliefs and the things that matter the most.

As I observed David, Tim, Julian, Chris, Chris, and Jonathan during rehearsals and performances, I could tell by their mannerisms, facial expressions, and actions, that they were all quite different from one another. AND YET, they work together, seamlessly, as one. As they rely on, and count on, one another, their differences work for them and truly magical music is produced. 

Something to think about perhaps, in this world of increasing intolerance.

One last note on the concert. Several of the songs we sang made me think about our pioneer forefathers. And I just want to express my gratitude to them for all of their countless sacrifices and for pushing through the persecution and hardships with a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and a Heavenly Father who's love they felt and relied upon.

As for our European tour!

We were asked by the Church security team not to make any social media posts while we were actually ON tour. I'm sure you can think about reasons why that was a good idea, though it was difficult not to share experiences and thoughts real-time. That said, tour was amazing and I firmly believe the Choir and Orchestra were successful in accomplishing their overall goal: to help others of all faiths and backgrounds feel inspired, feel God's love, feel better, and feel happier. And for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who attended the concerts, to let them know they are certainly not forgotten--that the members of the Choir and Orchestra representing the Church came to them because we love them and are grateful for all they do. 

At the end of the day, that's what was most important. The sites were amazing, the halls we performed in were grand, and I plan to share some of those things next week. But overall, I'm just very thankful to have been a part of sharing light and peace through music to the people of Europe.

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC Week #130 - Pre-tour Concert & Europe Prep

Tomorrow we leave for Europe!

This week was all about preparing for that (both personally, and as a choir), along with presenting a pre-tour concert to the public on Thursday evening. At that concert, we went through the entire tour program and I think it went really well (judging by the audience's reaction and the thumbs up given to us by the conductors). Sure, there are a couple of songs in which the lyrics aren't quite as solidified as I'd like them to be. But I'm getting close and overall, I'm really excited to present these songs to those over in Europe. 

I'm not sure what else to say for this entry today. I'm feeling anxious, excited, happy, in awe, and a bit sad, too. Leaving for three weeks is quite an undertaking. Professionally, my managers and executives have been very supportive. However, even though I have some good backups in place to keep the work I normally do, moving along, I already dread how many emails and tasks will be waiting for me when I return. Personally, I'm going to miss my wife and kids very much. The first few days usually aren't too bad. But after that, I start to realize just how much I love them and how much my life IS them. So I'm sure there will be some hard moments ahead. However, I'm choosing faith over fear. Faith that my family will be taken care of and faith that I'll be able to do what I need to do in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through the incredible gift of music.

Speaking of this blog, it will be strange, but I'm "going dark" as they say, for the next three weeks. Social media blackout. But I look forward to putting together a comprehensive blog entry when I return, detailing all of the European adventures I got to be a part of. If you're interested in how things are going for the Choir and Orchestra in the next few weeks, I'd suggest going to the official MoTab tour blog (or perhaps the tour page) where I'm sure they'll be posting some updates now and then. 

Until next time, God be with you!

MTC Week #129 - Being a Dad

The greatness of the task, the sacredness of the responsibility may make some fathers feel inadequate, but good fathers simply stand up, do their best, and say to their families, through their words and actions, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.” (Spoken Word (excerpt), Lloyd Newell, June 19, 2016)

Today's broadcast was in honor of fathers and the vital role they play within families and in society. While I enjoyed singing today and being a part of the overall experience, there weren't any deep or overwhelming emotions that surfaced as I thought about fathers and being one myself. To be honest, I'm just really grateful to be one. It's one of the greatest joys in life to see my children progress and succeed. It's humbling to have other parents come up to me or my wife and go on for two or three minutes about how great my children are. Yes, it's hard, too, to see them go through challenges, to cry, to get upset at life being unfair, to see them struggle and occasionally to see them fail. But it's heartwarming to see them get back up, to not give up, and to move forward. 

Some nights as I pray to my Heavenly Father, I think back on the day and my interactions with my children. Did I give them enough encouragement? Did I compliment them on a job well done? Were they in need of some counsel and was I focused enough to give it to them? Was I engaged in conversation they were trying to have with me? Do they know they I love them? Sometimes the answers to these questions is "no," and I try to repent and do better. Other times the answers are yes and I couldn't be happier. 

I want to thank my own dad for all he's done for me. As I've mentioned before, we were quite a distance apart growing up. But while we had relationship struggles, I always respected him and knew that the example he set for me was one I should follow. So I'm grateful for that, and grateful for the countless sacrifices he made for me both years ago, and still today.

We sang a song today called "My Father's Faith" by Janice Kapp Perry. While I sometimes struggle with songs like this (mainly because there are many children, and even adults, who can't say they have/had the "ideal" father), it's certainly a nice song and the video footage they included HERE brings a smile. (Here's the performance from today, though the link never lasts long).

Lastly, we're down to just one week before we embark to Europe! We have a pre-Tour Concert this coming Thursday night at 7:30 in the Tabernacle for all those who want to come. I can guarantee you'll like it. You may even love it. :)

Until next time, God be with you. 

MTC Week #128 - Great & Consistent

There are a few people I know in the choir who sing everything by memory. They just have a great gift for picking up words (and notes, and rhythm) quickly and when you see them hold up their folders, there's actually no music in them! I find that pretty amazing. There are also a few around me who seemingly sing everything perfectly. In reality, I'm sure they make mistakes from time to time, but overall, I know I can completely rely on them all the time. They are consistently great singers.

With that in mind, I was impressed by today's Spoken Word, as Lloyd Newell talked about the famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park--Old Faithful--which is one of the most predictable geographical features on Earth. Lloyd concluded by saying that "perhaps a message for us is that being consistent is more important than being grand. In other words, you don’t have to be the best or the biggest or the most impressive to make the biggest impact."

This message went right along with a quote I heard during my Sunday School

class today, by Howard W. Hunter. He said:

"Giving consistent effort in the little things in day-to-day life leads to true greatness. Specifically, it is the thousands of little deeds and tasks of service and sacrifice that constitute the giving, or losing, of one's life for others. ...I am confident that there are many great, unnoticed, and forgotten heroes among us. I am speaking of those of you who quietly and consistently do the things you ought to do."

-------------

Speaking of "great", it was a majestically great broadcast today. We sang some grand numbers such as "Psalm 148" and "Cum Sancto Spiritu". We sang a song that summed up such a lovely morning here in Salt Lake City "Oh What A Beautiful Morning." We sang one on our mortal journey "Pilgrim Song". And we sang an other-worldly number "Alleluia" from Psalm 150. And to add to it all, most were sung by memory.

May you have a great week and be consistent in doing great things!

Until next time, God be with you.

MTC Week #127 - Europe Tour Prep

Aside from a wonderful broadcast today featuring two of my favorite songs ("How Firm a Foundation", and "Standing on the Promises"), I wanted to jot down a few things that have been going on to prepare for our upcoming tour--which commences on June 27th. On the one hand, I honestly can't believe that time has gone by so quickly and there are only a few weeks left before departure. On the other hand, many preparations for this tour have been underway for quite awhile now and little by little, everything is coming into place.

MUSIC: The tour will feature 22 songs--all memorized, of course. Many of the songs were ones featured on the last tour, so I am familiar with them. They just need a little review. Others have needed lots of work, particularly those that are in the German language. For weeks now, after our broadcasts are over at 10am on Sundays, we've launched into extra rehearsals (10-11:30) to learn these tour songs. While no one likes extra rehearsals, it is a good feeling to feel more prepared. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (Doctrine & Covenants 38:30) It's also been interesting to relive some of the East Coast Tour memories that these songs bring to my mind and heart.

PACKING: The choir staff prepared about 10 short videos covering packing, in detail. What to make sure you have, what would be nice to consider, places to purchase various items, tips for how to pack clothes, how to handle laundry for a 20 day tour, how to secure credit cards and passport, etc. etc. They've been informative and while it's taken some time and $$ to pick up some essentials I was lacking, I'm grateful that I'm feeling more ready.

SECURITY: It would come as no surprise that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned for our safety. This can be said of any tour we take. The Church's security department has given us some important information to consider while traveling abroad. Some relate to things talked about in this article. It's been interesting to get out of the "oh, this will never happen to me" mentality, and realize that yes, yes it could.

COMMUNICATION/ELECTRONICS: Not all cell phone plans for communicating overseas via Europe are created equal! I've learned that those who have T-Mobile are pretty much set. Those of us with other carriers need to pay various fees to allow for texting and data usage. Getting a battery pack to charge electronic devices when a power outlet isn't handy was a must and getting a plug adapter was needed too. 


Anyhow, this is just to paint a picture of some of the things that have been going on during the past couple of months to get us all prepared. Our actual itinerary is under-wraps, though you can find the concerts we'll be performing and associated venues, on the MoTab website, here. 

The last preparation I'll mention is the mental prep being done by me, my wife and my kids. There's never been a time in the history of our 19 years of marriage that we've been apart this long. Some may say that 20 days isn't that big of deal. And yes, in the big scheme of things, it probably isn't. But I'll certainly miss them, and I know they will miss me. And mentally preparing for that is no small task. At least for us. But we trust that God will assist us and make everything work for our good. 

Until next time, God be with you.  

MTC Week #126 - To the Fallen

It has been said that sacrifice makes things sacred. If that is true, then military cemeteries. . .are among the most sacred places on earth. For here lie the remains of valiant men and women who sacrificed all earthly comforts to defend their country and those precious principles of liberty and freedom. (Lloyd Newell, The Spoken Word, 5/29/16)

The choir's focus this week was preparing for, and presenting, a special broadcast to honor the fallen, as described in the Spoken Word today. As such, our songs all centered on the theme of patriotism, freedom, the armed forces, and God Himself who oversees the affairs of nations and welcomes home all of His children after their mortal journey is complete. To help us pay tribute, today, was guest artist Dallyn Bayles, who is no stranger to singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Dallyn sang "God Bless the USA" with some accompaniment from the Choir and did a really nice job. (I noticed, too, his wife and kids watching him from stage right, during the run-through, which was great to see. Family support!)

I can honestly say, that despite some of our patriotic "favorites" being a little

cheesy and the lyrics somewhat unrelateable, their core message rings true in my heart. I AM grateful for those who have fought in the armed services to protect our freedom. Undoubtedly their sacrifice was great. I'm also grateful for men and women everywhere who actively take a stand to protect freedoms, elect good leaders, support worthy legislation, and promote peace. Taken more broadly, I'm grateful for those who are simply good citizens--who take the blessings given them and pay them forward through acts of kindness and love. Our nation and our world is better because of all such individuals. 

THANK YOU.

Until next time, God be with you.
 

MTC Week #125 - Of Deportment, Wardrobe Changes, & Gentri

Every so often, the members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square need reminders regarding "issues of deportment." And Thursday night was one of those reminder nights. As our Temple Square visitors had already taken their seats to watch our rehearsal, it was a good old public flogging! :)  The main concern was talking at any time during rehearsal, followed by the use of cell phones, and gum chewing. We were also reminded of the need to take our music home and spend time rehearsing it, particularly since there is so much to learn and memorize in preparation of our upcoming tour in June and our Pioneer Day concert in July. 

So let it be said, so let it be remembered.

On Tuesday, the men of the choir got an email from the Wardrobe Committee saying that we'd be wearing a new tie on Sunday and we were to learn how to tie the "trinity knot." They even provided us with a YouTube video showing how

Click to enlarge (to see the trinity knot!)

to tie knot. At first there was some discussion on our Facebook group that the email was a joke. But if some thought that, they didn't think that anymore after a confirmation Thursday night. I must say, I think the knot looks great! It's cool, it's different, and I think it helps the choir men look a little more fashionable. As I walked into the changing room this morning, it was

New purple dresses

rather funny to see how many of the men were standing in front of the mirrors with looks of confusion on their faces as they tried to tie the knot. It was fun to help a few of them--though I think, in retrospect, while the results looked just fine, I did the steps completely opposite. It's one thing to tie the knot on yourself using a mirror. It's another to tie the knot on someone else! Ah well. Good intentions! Anyway, I also have to mention that men weren't the only ones to debut a new wardrobe change. The women debuted a new purple dress which looked really nice! 

GENTRI - performing on today's broadcast (5/22/16)

The broadcast today was wonderful. We had some guests with us--the Gentlemen's Trio, GENTRI. They did a couple of solo pieces and we all sang a piece together at the end. These three are a very talented group and it was an honor to have them as part of the experience today. Audience members thought so, too, as the Tabernacle was packed. I particularly loved hearing them perform the song "Home."  (Here's a link from today's performance) It was a really touching song that caused me to ponder on someday going home.

After the broadcast, as we typically do, we sang God Be With You to those in the audience. And today, of course, we sang it to our guest artists as well. GENTRI left the stage with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces. 

Until next time God be with you.