The Tabernacle Choir Blog

South African Visitors Join the Choir in the Loft

Every summer the Mormon Tabernacle Choir moves from its home in the Tabernacle to the Conference Center next door to make room for the thousands of visitors who attend the Sunday broadcasts, Thursday rehearsals or Pioneer Day concerts. Visitors hail from nations across the globe. Not surprisingly, many are journalists.

Special guests from Durban, South Africa’s radio station Ukhozi FM attended the Pioneer Day Concert, “A Summer Celebration of Song,” and made a live broadcast following the event. They described being “amazed” and “moved” by the Choir and guest artist Santino Fontana.

The South African station is one of the largest in the world with more than 7.7 million listeners, many of whom are fans of the Choir. In fact, one of Ukhozi’s former presenters even made the hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints” his signature tune. So it was only fitting that as a special treat the Ukhozi FM journalists were embedded in the choir loft during the rehearsal for the Sunday morning broadcast of July 20, 2014. It was the crowning experience of the journalists’ visit with the Choir.

The group included Sibusiso Buthelezi, Mroza Buthelezi and Bongo Mpanza from Ukhozi FM Radio in Durban and Justice Mchunu from KZN Premiere’s office, plus LDS Church escorts Bishop Graham Sabela, Sipho Duma, Sean Donnelly, and Kenneth Mofokeng.