This year’s Pioneer Day concert guest artist, Christopher Jackson, is a Tony Award nominated actor, as well as Grammy and Emmy Award winning songwriter/composer. Jackson is best known for starring as George Washington in the critically acclaimed, award-winning musical, Hamilton, and currently appears in the hit CBS drama Bull. Jackson also recorded an original song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda for the Disney film Moana that premiered in 2016.

In film and TV, he has appeared in Person of Interest, A Gifted Man, Fringe, Gossip Girl, Tracers, and Afterlife. 

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will present “Music for a Summer Evening,” their annual concert held in conjunction with Pioneer Day celebrations honoring the arrival of the Mormon pioneers in 1847. The concert will be held on Friday and Saturday, July 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. in the Conference Center and will be conducted by Mack Wilberg, music director of the Choir and Ryan Murphy, associate music director.

Jackson is connected to another group of former Choir guest artists, the Muppets® from Sesame Street®, where he is a songwriter/composer for the program. In 2011, Jackson won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song for “What I Am.” The song was performed by Will.i.am, of the Black Eyed Peas, and the video is approaching 70 million views.

Free tickets for these concerts are required. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 10:00 a.m at lds.org/events, by calling 801-570-0080 or at the Conference Center ticket office. Admission to this event is limited to those ages eight and older.

Patrons without tickets are invited to stand by for last-minute seating which is usually available each evening. The standby line will form at the North Gate on Temple Square at 6:30 p.m. for the evening performances.

Check out a few videos showcasing Jackson’s songwriting, acting, and singing talents:

Christopher Jackson and Lin-Manuel Miranda perform "One Last Time" at the White House for President Obama.

Elmo and a Justin Bieber look-alike (Christopher Jackson) sing "Measure, Yeah, Measure," a spoof of Bieber's hit "Never Say Never."

Christopher Jackson as General George Washington sings "The Story Of Tonight," while General Elmo has some great questions.