Tabernacle Choir honors longtime adviser
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Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir were among mourners paying respects to President Gordon B. Hinckley, Jan. 31 at his viewing in the Conference Center. President Hinckley had been the choir's adviser for 37 years.
At a private viewing after their Thursday evening rehearsal, they surrounded his casket in the Hall of the Prophets and sang "one last time" for President Hinckley. With deep emotion, they sang "Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide," "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," and "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."
The choir provided music at President Hinckley's funeral on Feb. 2. On Feb. 3, it paid tribute to President Hinckley during its "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast, performing, among other selections, one of his favorite songs, "Danny Boy."
Lloyd D. Newell, the choir's announcer, said, "We lovingly called him 'friend' because of his extraordinary supervision of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and its broadcasts for so many decades. No one has loved 'Music and the Spoken Word' more; few have had a greater influence upon it. President Hinckley has overseen the broadcast since 1971. He has been its champion and visionary leader from the broadcast's mid-life to the present. But more than that, he has been our beloved associate and dear friend."
For President Hinckley's 96th birthday, the choir presented President Hinckley a computer-manipulated photo showing his face superimposed among the choir's tenors. It was one of his favorite photos. After the broadcast Feb. 3, Craig Jessop, the choir's musical director, presented a copy of the photo to each of President Hinckley's sons and daughters. — Gerry Avant
