MTC #154 - Behind the Christmas Concert

Everything I saw, felt, and heard from others would indicate that the Christmas Concert this past weekend was a great success. Mack mentioned during rehearsal one evening that it's no small feat to keep producing these concerts year after year. Expectations have been set and it's difficult to deliver on those expectations. However, through hard work and effort on the parts of hundreds of people (and the blessings of heaven, of course), the concerts rarely disappoint. Sure, everyone has their favorites, but overall, each concert is very enjoyable and brings in the Christmas spirit that people are so eager to feel this time of year. 

You can read official reviews and see lots of pictures of the concert from a variety of sources: 

Deseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
KUTV News
Mormon Newsroom (Includes a nice short summary video)

But the review I'd like to provide includes observations that were largely unseen by those not involved in the production of the concert.

One of my favorite nights leading up to the concert is Tuesday night when all involved in the concert finally come together and start combining everything they've worked on. The choir, the orchestra, the bells, the dancers, the stage crew, and the special effects join together and it's all sort of MAGICAL. Wednesday's rehearsal is much the same as we work to perfect what we did on Tuesday. Great moments.

I also enjoy our times before the concerts as we congregate in the Conference Center's Little Theater to hear notes from Mack and Ryan. We work on a portion of this piece, and a portion of another, and hear some valuable feedback. 

Saturday afternoon, as we come together for a recording session, it's not a very "fun" process, but we all know it's an important time to get things ready for the eventual CD, DVD, and television release. Yes, the cameras are capturing the concert each evening as it happens live, but there are always various numbers that need the silence of a closed recording session. As 5:00p rolls around, though, we're all very ready to head over to the Church Office Building's cafeteria for some dinner that the good people there have prepared for us. 

The chatter among choir members as we wait to go on stage, or get dressed in our tuxes, or wait for rehearsal to begin typically includes personal reviews of the concert, a listing of when family members are attending, and life outside of choir during this busy Christmas season. 

It's fun to watch the all of the 21,000 seats of the Conference Center start to fill up with people eager to see and hear what we have to offer. The anticipation of being able to perform for them, and them being able to experience our preparation, is most rewarding indeed.

There were some definite personal concert highlights for me. One was singing "Carol of the Drums", or "Little Drummer Boy" as some know it by. The message of that song hit home to me every time I sang it. Another was hearing the tale of The Little Match Girl again as it's been a very long time since I heard it. So much to think about and consider from that story. Another was the dancing. It add so much to the show (and wow--those camels!) And yet another was seeing Mack or Ryan's face when we nailed a particular part of a song that we had worked hard to perfect. Lastly, "Angels from The Realms of Glory" is the absolute best way to end a Christmas Concert. I get chills and teary-eyes every time.

I'm so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. And I'm thankful, once again, that I get to have the opportunity to sing in this Choir. A special thanks, as always, to my wife and kids who manage things at home during all of my extra rehearsals. I love them so much, and today when I came home after the broadcast, I gave them all big hugs. 

Until next time, God be with you.