Chorus takes stage once again
Mack Wilberg, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, will be guest-conducting the final four numbers of Saturday’s American Festival Chorus concert.
The concert will take place in the Kent Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. and will feature music composed and arranged by Mack Wilberg.
The American Festival Chorus was created in the fall of 2008, as a part of the Caine School of the Arts, according to Craig Jessop, dean of the Caine school of the Arts and director for the chorus.
Jessop said he wanted to do Wilberg’s music because he has always been a fan of Wilberg, and believes he is one of the most talented composers in America.
“To me, he is one of the most prominent, talented and significant composers and arrangers in America,” Jessop said.
Wilberg was appointed to the position of conductor for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 2008, when Jessop accepted the position of dean of CSA. Prior to being the conductor for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, he was Jessop’s assistant, and directed and conducted the Temple Square Chorale in Salt Lake City.
The concert will have music from various genres, such as American folk tunes, hymns and three of his Christmas songs, Jessop said.
“He’s done so many arrangements of Christmas music for the Tabernacle it would be unthinkable not to include some of it,” Jessop said.
The American Festival Chorus and Symphony is composed of mostly volunteer members of the community, USU faculty and even students, Jessop said. It is connected with CSA, and the students can use the participation as class credit.
The group meets every Wednesday evening for two and a half hours of practice, and this week did a five hour rehearsal, Jessop said.
Leslie Black, a member of the Chorus, said she is excited to do the performance, because the music is beautiful.
“The music is really moving. We were doing a song, and my eyes teared up, and I couldn’t sing, I couldn’t even see the page,” she said.
Jessop said the chorus and symphony is an important part of the cultural life here in Cache Valley, and said not only does the group sing classical choral music, but they include all types of music, including pop and musicals.
“Last summer Peter Cetera, the lead singer from Chicago came and sang with us,” Jessop said.
The concert finale will be what Jessop said is one of Wilberg’s most famous and most beloved songs, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” which will be conducted by Wilberg.
Jessop said while “Come Thou Fount” is one of the most beloved of the public, he couldn’t name his favorite song of Wilberg’s, since there is such a broad range of songs that will be sung on Saturday.
“I have a strong personal tie with a lot of this music,” he said, since he asked Wilberg to create many of his pieces for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
“I can’t use enough superlatives (for Wilberg). He’s a world class musician, a father of four, and one of my closest friends. It’s an honor to have him come here,” he said.
Tickets are available at the Caine Box Office, or online at arts.usu.edu
– april.ashland@aggiemail.usu.edu