MTC Week #24 - Father Introspection

June 15, 2014

A very happy Father's Day to all of you fathers out there. It's not an easy job to be the father that God wants you to be but I know many fathers who try their best to live up to that ideal, including my own father. While my dad and I were not very close growing up (very different interests), I always respected him and was grateful for his example and what he taught me. So thanks Dad for who you were and who you are today.

For Music and the Spoken Word today, we sang a number of songs that made

me do some serious reflection (and which almost produced a few tears), about how I did, and how I'm doing, as a dad. My kids span six years old to 15 years old, and I naturally thought about my oldest and how she'll only be with us for another three years or so before she launches into the world. In some respects, three years is awhile. But as every year seems to go faster than the previous one, three years is going to fly by.

Incorporating some of the lyrics of today's songs into my thoughts, I asked myself these questions regarding my children: 

Am I a dad who is brave, strong, and true?
Do I fill the world with love and do you see that I do?
Do I spend enough time with you flying kites, swinging in the swings, playing ball?
Have I given you more than things? Have I given you a heart that sings? Do I have a place in your heart?
As I'm turning around and realizing how quickly time has gone, will I have taught you enough before you go out the door? Before you have kids of your own?
Have I helped provide a home where there's a special feeling of warmth, security, shelter, and love?

I'm thankful for being able to sing songs today that help remind me of my responsibilities of being a great dad. I'm grateful in general for being able to sing songs each week that speak to my soul. And as people come to watch the choir rehearse each week and to watch Sunday morning's performance, I have a prayer in my heart that they'll leave the experience inspired to be better.

After today's Music & Spoken Word broadcast

Until next time, God be with you!

MTC Week #23 - Normal?

June 9, 2014

So is this past week what they'd call a "normal" week with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? I dare say it was. I'm not sure any of us who just joined back in January have ever known a normal week! At any rate, we met for rehearsal Thursday night and, as mentioned in my blog last week, the folks from the ACDA leadership were there in the audience listening and observing. Thankfully the rehearsal itself went "very well" (in the words of Bro. Wilberg) and the only hitch was that the orchestra was missing one of the pieces we'd be performing on Sunday. Thankfully they are a very bright orchestra and picked it up just fine as we rehearsed Sunday morning.

The theme for Sunday's Music & the Spoken Word was "The Root of Good Manners". I thought that was an interesting title and tried to think, offhand, what the root of good manners would actually be. Surely it's more than just being polite or being kind, though I'm sure those would fit in there somewhere.

Bro. Newell, who gives the spoken word each Sunday, said the following about this topic: 

Actor John Rhys-Davies says that it is quite natural to feel shy, to be uncomfortable in a room of strangers. His advice? "Turn it the other way around and think, 'I'm walking into a room full of very shy people, and my job is to make them feel at ease and comfortable in their situation.' That is really the root of good manners: making the people around you feel comfortable."

Some people are so skilled at making others feel comfortable. They're genuinely interested in others; they're kind and thoughtful; they're easy to be around. Instead of focusing on themselves, they choose to be considerate and responsive, and they seem to take sincere joy in making people happy.


It's easy to assume that some people are just naturally outgoing-that it comes easily to them-and the rest of us simply aren't that way. But the fact is that with a little effort and practice, anyone can choose to be open, loving, and warm. That might mean we attentively listen, or we think, "What can I learn from this person?" For others, it might mean we speak up a little more or make the effort to meet someone new.

The skill of good manners is not beyond anyone's reach-at its roots, it's simply a matter of forgetting ourselves and helping others feel comfortable.

My sister-in-law Jenny is an expert at this and my wife and I are amazed at her ability to make others around her feel comfortable. We try ourselves to do this but it doesn't quite come as naturally as she makes it look! What's interesting to think about though, is sure...you can walk into a room of people you may not not know and be content to just "lay low." And I suppose there are times when that's OK. But think about what you're missing out on. There are all of these people, each with a story, each with a personality, and each probably willing to get to know you if you take the initiative. Who knows how your life might be impacted or blessed just because of a conversation? In the eternal sense, we're all God's children so perhaps if we look at it as just getting to know one of your brothers or sisters, that might make it easier.
Go ahead...give it a try!

The song that touched me the most on the broadcast Sunday was the one we always close with:  God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again. For some reason, I felt as though it was really impacting someone in the audience as we sang it. Check out the background of this hymn, and also a wonderful conversion story regarding the Torgersens of Norway. One excerpt from that story: "They concluded the tour in the Tabernacle and were about to leave when a choir recording of “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” began to play. “I sat down and started crying,” recalls Solvor. “I couldn’t stop. Thor attributed my strange behavior to being overcome by beautiful music, but I didn’t tell him what really happened, because I couldn’t speak.”

Until next time, God be with you...

MTC Week #22 - Of Absences, Hope, & Future Performances

June 1, 2014

As is the case each year at this time, the Choir started rehearsing at the Conference Center instead of the Tabernacle to accommodate the larger crowds that come to Temple Square during the summer months. As we gathered in the choir seats, one thing became very obvious: there were a lot of men absent! In fact, most of them were tenors, interestingly enough, and there were so many gone that poor Bro. Gheris (who, along with his wife Deb, make the seating assignments) had quite the time trying to re-arrange everyone. Since seating on Thurs nights reflects where we should sit Sunday morning for the Music & Spoken Word broadcast, the rearranging was a necessity. Bro. Wilberg gave us all a mini-speech about summer attendance. He realizes that summer equates to vacations and family events. Which he wholeheartedly supports. "But when you are in town", he said, "please make sure and be here ready to rehearse and perform." Why would somebody not want to be here? I thought... I hope I never get into that mindset. I still pinch myself each time I'm there to make sure it's all real.

The rehearsal went well, except that I didn't have two pieces we were singing. Three things I learned from not having music: 1) choir members are very willing to let you look off their copy (even sometimes just giving it to you) 2) the library is not open after choir rehearsal is over, and 3) check the music in your folder BEFORE going to the choir seats. Lessons learned.

So while rehearsing with Ryan Murphy before the broadcast started, he told us the story behind one of the pieces (I really like when he does that). The song "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go" is about a man (George Matheson, the

George Matheson

lyricist) who was engaged to get married to the love of his life, and at the same time, found out he was going blind. As his bride to be came to terms with this news, she decided that she would not be able to go through with the marriage and live the life of someone being married to a blind person. As George dealt with this tragedy of losing his bride-to-be and losing his sight, he had every reason to be upset with God. But he did not go down that path. He chose HOPE, and let the love of God envelop and comfort him. A love that would "not let him go". 

It's true. God's love is always there. The prophet Isaiah says how God's "hand is stretched out still." It's still there--all the time. And especially when we're going through hard times.

(Here is a performance of the song you can take a look at)

Bro. Wilberg reminded us of some important upcoming performances... Next week, for rehearsal, over 100 choral directors involved with the 2015 ACDA Conference are coming to observe us so of course he'd like us at our best for Thursday's rehearsal. The upcoming conference (early next year) is being held in Salt Lake City and apparently we're going to have a large role in that. We have the Pioneer Day celebration concert and then the Deer Valley concert. Never a dull moment and lots of great music!

Until next time...God be with you.

MTC Week #21 - It is Finished

March 25, 2014

At approximately 8:50pm Thursday (5/22), having sung the last words of "For Unto Us a Child is Born" (for the upteenth time), there was complete silence in the Tabernacle. The only question on everyone's mind was "are we done? Was that last take good enough? Could this fulfilling, monumental project be over?" As the seconds went by, we awaited the final word from Ryan Murphy in the sound booth who would be the ultimate judge on whether this last attempt passed musical and professional scrutiny. And then we heard Ryan sing, not speak, "Hal-le-lu-jah!" and we knew that the moment had arrived. Cheers and clapping erupted and the ushers in the Tabernacle finally opened the doors to those patiently waiting outside to hear us rehearse.

Bro. Wilberg gave us a five minute break reminding us that we had a special Memorial Day Music & the Spoken Word to rehearse for and perform on Sunday. So we returned after those five minutes to rehearse for that while Temple Square visitors listened from the benches below.

This recording experience was the last experience that several retiring choir members were going to have in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. A fellow bass behind me was part of this group and he had taken several pictures during the rehearsal to capture the moment. On the way out, we happened to be walking down the stairs together and he turned to me (knowing I was a new member of the choir) and said, "enjoy it while it lasts. Time goes so very quickly." I turned to him and mentioned I would try. I wasn't completely without a frame of reference for such feelings as he was having. There are several awesome, soul-stirring experiences I've had in my own life that I often look back on and think, "wow, that sure did go by quickly." Indeed, it would be well to seize the day, capture the moment, and enjoy the journey.

Well, all of that aside, I just want to chime in with how grateful I am for singing in today's Memorial Day special. First, I'm glad I was actually able

to sing it (I had an allergy attack the night before and miraculously, when arriving at the Tabernacle, my eyes and nose cleared up so I could sing OK). Second, even though I don't have any relatives I know of that lost their lives in the military, I do have plenty of relatives that "fought the good fight" so to speak and lived their lives with honor and doing good to many people. They were true examples of our Savior Jesus Christ. And I'm thankful for them.

Our broadcast of today's program won't be up for several weeks to come, but here are few songs we sang today: Here, here, and here.

Until next time, God be with you....

MTC Week #20 - Recording: Applying it to Life

May 18, 2014

The Tabernacle was like a second home this week as the choir members gathered Tuesday thru Saturday to record Handel's Messiah. From 6:30pm to 10:00pm each evening (and 9:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday), we took our places in the loft to create a work of art. Bro. Wilberg was directing the choir and orchestra, while Bro. Murphy was in the sound recording room listening to our sound through microphones and letting us know, continuously, what we needed to fix.

It's a taxing, exhausting, arduous process full of patience and hard work. Consider this: for every minute it takes to perform a piece, it takes about an hour to record. So with 17 chorus pieces, at anywhere from 90 sec to 7 min each, well, you can do the math. That all said, Bro. Wilberg reminded us often of how significant the project was and what a special/historical recording we'd end up with. One that would bless the lives of many people who would listen to it (and be inspired by it) for years and years to come.

Ryan Murphy and others in the sound booth

So...rather than take up space in this blog to write out exactly how the recording process works, I thought I'd liken it to life in general and lessons that can be learned to aid us in becoming more like our Savior.

A. Any worthwhile endeavor takes persistence and effort. Just as this CD would not create itself, and just as getting a really good take of a certain passage took numerous attempts, we've got to keep at at. Work hard and things will pay off.

B. It's important to routinely emphasize the positive. Bro. Wilberg and Bro. Murphy both, while certainly giving us plenty to correct and improve upon as we sang, would also tell us what we did well. "This is very, very good," they would say, or "Some great things are happening," or "Sopranos, you really nailed that section." Etc. I'm sure we could all do better in giving out compliments and praise (when warranted) along with giving out the criticism. 

C. Being kind and being nice are critical virtues. There were times during the recording process that choir members would say something or do something (accidentally bump someone, have to wait for others while exiting or entering the loft or row, complain, not follow instructions, keep singing the notes the wrong way, etc) to slightly annoy or frustrate. Such situations always end up better when both parties remember kindness. Life is the same way. 

D. To get good at something takes a lot of repetition. Is this not true? After the 12th take of a certain passage, we wouldn't even have to look at our music any more. Those notes, rhythms, dynamics, etc. had been integrated into our neural pathways and could be recalled at will. Whatever skill we're trying to obtain in life, whatever habit we're trying to develop, repetition is an important thing to keep in mind.

E. Perspective. If we had looked at this recording process minute by minute, we all would have gone crazy knowing just how many minutes we had left. Knowing the end goal and focusing on finding joy in the journey gives us the needed perspective. As I thought of this CD finally in the hands of listeners and the satisfaction and inspiration it would give them, those minutes didn't seen so long (OK..well, most of the time!)

F. Savor the little things. While recording, we often had to stand for long periods of time. Of course the feet would start to ache and the back would go from a good singer's stance to a slouch... Then Bro. Wilberg would say "Please have a seat." And oh, how good it felt to sit! There are little things every day to savor. Lots of blessings all around. It does us good to find them and be thankful for them.

G. We're all in this together (I think that phrase was already in my head with my wife and daughter just recently participating in a junior high production of High School Musical 2). Taking one page or passage of music at a time, we ALL had to play our part in order to make progress. None of us can really make much progress in life unless we have an interest, love, and respect for our fellowmen around us. Neal A. Maxwell once said "To withdraw into our private sanctuaries not only deprives others of our love, our talents, and our service, but it also deprives us of chances to serve, to love, and to be loved." And one more: "Everyone, in seeking the interest of his neighbor, seeks the larger interest. As a man blesses his neighbor, he also blesses himself, but the contrary is not always so. Let a person or a people persistently seek only their own interests, and there will finally come both a poverty of purse and a shrinking of soul."

There were other things I learned, but those are some main ones. 

I'm just grateful, again, to be part of this organization and to have the opportunities I've been given to sing in this capacity. What a blessing. And I must let my wife and kids know how grateful I am for their support. It's weeks like these when I'm gone so much that I appreciate even more all they do to keep the wheels of life turning.

One last thing I learned as I was signing on the Music & Spoken Word broadcast this morning: it's much less stressful to perform music to a worldwide audience if I have sung that music more than once :) (We all did our best today having been so tired from the week of recording)

Until next time, God be with YOU.

MTC Week #19 - The Process

May 11, 2014  Today's post will take you into the details of what goes into singing in an episode of Music & the Spoken Word. At least the details of my experience...

6:00am  Up to shave, shower, get dressed, and eat. While shaving and showering, I go over the pieces we'll be singing my memory that day. I give my sleeping wife a kiss and then drive to meet by fellow carpool partner and friend, Ben Blauer. 

6:45  It's my day to drive, so Ben gets into the passenger seat and we're off to the Tabernacle about 15 minutes away. While driving, we ask each other about the weekend highlights and often talk about the music we'll be singing or upcoming events we'll be a part of. Ben holds a sheet of paper in his hands with the words to our memorized piece of the day "Grand Night for Singing". I smile as I often print out or write down the words myself to take them to soccer games or other kids' events throughout the week. Memorizing doesn't come easy to me, so the more time I take, the more prepared I feel.

6:57:  We drive into the Conference Center parking lot and park next to the South Temple exit ramp for a quicker departure later. Swiping the security badge, we enter the rather long tunnel to get to the Tabernacle and make our way to the men's dressing room and notice via a mannequin what we are to wear for today's broadcast. My tabernacle choir brethren are changing and conversing about various topics as I get dressed myself. It's then over to the music locker to pick up my folders of music. Because there's an extra rehearsal after the broadcast today, I bring both my red performing folder and my blue storage folder. 

7:20:  I take my seat, saying hi to various people I meet. Of course it's always good to see those who were in choir school with me and whether it's a quick "hello" or a more engaged conversation, it's good to see them. It's also good, of course, to meet the other members of the choir and extend friendship to them as well. I notice the various stage crew workers in black work clothing setting up the stage and the camera and various staff members milling about seeing to last minute details.

7:25: Ryan or Mack (depending on who's conducting) greets us all and starts us off with a warm-up. Afterwards, Ryan gave us a tribute to his mother sharing a personal growing up experience, and made some general comments about how great mothers are. We then start rehearsing the music we'll be singing that day--skipping to his part or some other part depending on the notes our director took at Thursday's rehearsal. 

7:45: The choir president or another staff member gives us announcements and then a choir member says a prayer for all of us--thanking God for our talents and opportunities to help share our testimonies to the world in this musical way. He/she also asks a blessing on those whose names are on the Tabernacle Choir prayer roll. 

Bells on Temple Square

7:50: The orchestra warms up and we then all start rehearsing the music. Today was somewhat unique as the Bells on Temple Square were going to be part of the broadcast. I watched part of their rehearsal in fascination. Audience members start to file in a little later...

8:40: We do a complete run through of the broadcast--cameras, lights, action! I enjoy this part. It's a chance to get a feel for how things will go without too much pressure. We watch carefully as our director motions us to stand or sit or bring our folders up or down. While singing, I'm constantly thinking about posture, high vowels, how others sound around me (so I can match them) and what my face is portraying to the audience. And then I try to think about the message I'm singing and what that message means to me. It's a tricky balancing act to get it all just right (especially

Andrew Unsworth

knowing you're on camera at any given moment). And if we're singing a memorized piece, throw in remembering the words as well! Today, I was particularly touched by the organ solo by Andrew Unsworth. It just sort of spoke to me...

9:07: After some quick notes from the director following the run-through, we exit "the loft" (choir seat section) and either go outside for a bit or stay down below/behind the loft. This is the time to eat a quick snack, go to the restroom, get powdered to reduce facial shine by Sis. Make-up, review mentally what you learned during the run-through, and catch a quick conversation or two with other choir members. 

9:20: We file back to the loft. I sit down and look into the audience, realizing that they (and the thousands watching remotely) are about to have a spiritual experience. At least that is my hope. I realize too, that I need to put on my A-game to help facilitate that. It's all very humbling. Brother Newell talks to the audience about audience etiquette--reminding them that it's important to be quiet during the broadcast as well as warmly welcoming them there.

9:29:30:  One of the broadcast producers yells out "30 seconds" and then it's 15, and then it's 10. And then, well, we sing. We replicate the run-through, but try to do better. Will someone be touched today? Will they want to be a better person? Will they decide to make some changes? Will they feel God's love and have a desire to repent? Will they want to know more about the Church and ask a missionary afterwards for more information? Will they leave feeling renewed and refreshed, ready to meet life's challenges head on with more hope? Yes. All of this happens and more. That's the miracle of it all.

10:00: With the cameras off, Bro. Newell says a few words and then we turn to the audience and sing our farewell song, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." I pick out one member in the audience and even though I can't see his or her face, I sing to that person. And I hope they know that I love them. I hope they are changed from having attended. And I hope that I come away changed, and more dedicated as well. 

Until next week...God be with you!

MTC Week #18 - Thus it Officially Begins

May 4, 2014 

I've made a lot of comments already on Choir School ending but this week it officially ended. We met Tuesday night to go over the results of our final exam and to hear some closing tidbits of advice from our instructors. What's funny is that throughout these past four months, our instructors and the staff members have alluded to the possibility of some of us not actually making it into the choir due to various (but elusive) reasons. Exam results? Not incorporating good singing habits? Incompatible personality? Even up to the

Acceptance Letter

last moment when Scott Barrick brought out letters addressed to each of us officially extending the calling to serve in the choir (the letters were in two distinct piles--leading one to think acceptance vs rejection). . .  But, you'll be glad to know that everyone received a favorable letter and we're now all official members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In the days ahead, we'll be set apart as "musical missionaries" and our term of service will be, well, as long as we're willing to serve (up to the mandatory retirement age of 60, or 20 years total, whichever comes first).

There was some good advice given but I think the advice I'll remember the most was from Cherlyn who said that there are two main ways that Satan will work at you while you're in the choir. The first is routine. There's a danger that as time goes on and we fall into the routine, that it will become something that we don't put your whole heart and soul into. Elder Henry B. Eyring once said: "Complacency can affect even the seasoned adult. The better and the longer you serve, the more likely that the tempter can place this lie in your mind: “You have earned a rest.”  We need to remember, that each time we're rehearsing or 

A few of us bases

singing for and audience or singing on camera to the world, that our voice, our attitude, our preparation, our testimony, and our personal worthiness all need to be in ship-shape condition. People are counting on us. And though there are 400 of us, each of us matters.

The other way Satan tries to distract us from our calling is through people. There will be times when the people we interact with or sing next to, start to annoy us for whatever reason. We need to keep our hearts in charity mode and look for the good in people at all times. 

I don't think it's a stretch to liken these two things to everyday life :)

At Village Inn

Well, with class ended, we celebrated by going out to Village Inn. Some chose to go home but many stayed and welcomed the opportunity to further friendships and celebrate. It was fun. 

Thursday night was our "first" rehearsal as true choir members and we readied ourselves for Sunday's MSW (Music & Spoken Word) performance. We don't have permanent seats as of yet for some reason but probably soon. 

Today we went a bit early to get our pictures taken, and then fell into the normal (but enlightened!) routine of rehearsing for the broadcast and then performing. My wife was there, along with my father and mother-in-law who are down from Washington for the week. At the end, before we sang "God Be With You" to the audience, Bro. Lloyd Newell said a few words and then invited all of the new choir members to stand. So stand we did-- to much clapping and accolades of support. We all talk of those moments that "mark the occasion" and, well, this was one I doubt I'll forget. (Broadcast link HERE)

Until next time, God be with you...