MTC #143 - Into 4Q We Go

Nothing too out of the ordinary happened this week in regards to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. At least from my own experience. Rehearsals went well (had their normal ups and downs) and the broadcast today was comprised of songs I really enjoyed. The Tabernacle was full of people who had come to partake and who had brought with them their happy faces, their picture-taking smart devices, and their eagerness to hear inspiring music.

Afterwards, we spent the next 90 minutes going over songs to be sung at upcoming General Conference this next weekend. Fortunately, we get a memorization break as there are only three or four that we need to commit to memory. Compared with past conferences, this is quite a treat. It's true that memorizing a song has a lot of benefits I enjoy. But at the same time, there's a part of me that's glad our memorization list is so short.

So looking ahead to fourth quarter, we will finish preparing for, and singing at, conference this first weekend in October. Then we'll have a short break from extra rehearsals before launching into Christmas Concert preparations. Our first extra rehearsal for that concert is on November 6th and there will be seven more that follow (Tuesday nights, in addition to our regular Thursday nights, plus staying after the Sunday broadcasts). It's our craziest time of year.

Who is the special guest this time, you might ask? It's none other than John and

Jane Doe! Ha. Just kidding. Actually, we don't find out any sooner than the general public does. As is tradition, they plan to announce this year's guest artist on the KSL Doug Wright show on Thursday, October 13th--probably around 11:15am or so. I have at least one guess of who it might be. But I won't add to the speculation rumors.

How do you get tickets? Glad you asked. This year, the Church will be doing it different than in years past. From the MoTab's Choir Notes: "On Saturday, October 15 at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) tickets will become available to the public only online at lds.org/events. There will be no phone requests for tickets, and tickets will not be available in person through the Conference Center Ticket Office. Each patron will be able to request four tickets. Admission is open to those eight years of age and over."  Get those quick keyboard-typing and mouse-clicking fingers ready, my friends, and good luck!

As a side note, I came across this interesting interview done by folks at BYU Radio, with the interviewee being none other than Leslie Odom Jr., one of the stars of the immensely popular musical, HAMILTON. In the interview he referenced the Mormon Tabernacle Choir when he said "Those are not just songs they're singing. That's ministry. It is important work that they (we) do."

Thanks Leslie. And there you have it!

Until next time, God be with you.