Hearing Tabernacle Choir 'up close and personal' on concert tour
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Hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a CD or watching a broadcast of one of its Christmas specials is a musical treat, but nothing can match seeing and hearing the choir "up close and personal," and one can't get much more up close and personal than being at a concert on one's home turf. So declared Nancy W. Lowman, who looks forward to the choir's concert in Des Moines, Iowa, during its 2009 summer concert tour.
"No electronics yet invented can begin to match the experience of hearing live over 300 magnificent voices and a world-class orchestra," said Sister Lowman, chairman of the media contact committee for the choir's June 22 concert in Des Moines. "Hearing 'America's Choir' live, in concert, will simply be unforgettable. We don't have to be content with just telling our friends, neighbors or colleagues about a new CD, or an award such a Grammy, or a special recognition, such as being named a national 'icon' by National Geographic magazine. Now we can invite them to join us at the concert. What fun to get to share the choir — our ambassadors — with friends, neighbors and colleagues."
Jim Engebretsen was involved in promoting the choir's concert in Philadelphia, Pa., during its summer tour in 2003. He said that the choir's appearance in a city on tour provides a great opportunity for members to bring friends, neighbors and colleagues to hear the choir.
"They were just so enthusiastic about the experience," he said of guests who were invited. "I'd kind of taken the choir for granted and how good it is. I'd seen it a lot, and for free."
Concerts on tour aren't free, however. Sometimes, ticket prices can be rather steep, a necessity caused by factors such as renting and staffing the concert venues. Brother Engebretsen said many who attended the concert in Philadelphia "thought it was worth a lot more money. It gave us opportunities to talk about the Church. There wasn't anyone we invited that didn't turn out to be a positive outcome and a success."
Terry Smith helped promote the choir in Toronto. She recently looked through some of the comments made by individuals who attended the sole Canadian concert during the choir's 2007 tour. "One member commented, 'It certainly was a treat! My guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The choir is everything it is said to be plus much more.'"
Sister Smith said another individual wrote: "I should have brought my whole family."
Another person wrote: "I knew of [the choir's] reputation, but seeing it in person really hit home. The quality was just terrific, and the overall message was presented in such a positive manner. It was a concert that I will remember for a really long time.
The Tabernacle Choir's 2009 summer tour concerts will be in: Cincinnati, Ohio (Riverbend Music Center, June 18); St. Louis, Mo. (Scott Trade Center, June 20); Des Moines, Iowa, (Iowa Events Center, June 22); Omaha, Neb., (Holland Performing Arts, June 23); Kansas City, Mo., (Sprint Center); Norman, Okla., (University of Oklahoma campus, June 27); and Denver, Colo., (Red Rocks Amphitheater, June 29). More details about the choir and its tour may be found at mormontabernaclechoir.org.
The choir will be accompanied by the Cincinatti Pops Orchestra at its concert at Riverbend. For the remainder of the tour, the choir will be accompanied by the Orchestra at Temple Square.
