Last week’s Choir Notes looked back at the mountains the Mormon Tabernacle Choir organization climbed in 2015. Now to the mountains of 2016.

The year begins with the start of Choir School, the 16-week training in vocal technique, sight-reading skills, and music theory that 48 incoming Choir members will complete. Choir School along with participation in the Temple Square Chorale is the last step in the audition process for new Choir members. Temple Square Chorale culminates in a joint concert with the Orchestra at Temple Square scheduled on April 29 and 30, 2016 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.

On February 19 and 20, 2016, the Choir will join with the Utah Symphony and the Choristers of the Madeleine Choir School to present two free concerts of Mahler’s Symphony no. 8 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.  The concerts are presented through the O.C. Tanner Gift of Music, and will be conducted by Thierry Fischer, music director of the Utah Symphony.  Ticket information will be on the Choir’s website soon.

In time for Easter 2016, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will release a new recording of Handel’s beloved oratorio Messiah. This new edition by Mack Wilberg for large choir and orchestra retains the baroque aesthetics and sound of Handel’s original masterpiece. Two versions will be available: the Complete Oratorio containing the full work on two CDs with a bonus DVD, and a Highlights CD containing selected choruses and solos. The CDs will be released in March, but pre-orders can be purchased now with a special 15% discount for the Complete Oratorio or the Highlights version.

In addition to the new recording, the Choir and the Orchestra will perform Messiah live on Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25, 2016 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. The concert on Good Friday, March 25 will also be streamed live worldwide over the Internet.  Free tickets for the performances will be distributed via random selection prior to the concert. Watch Choir Notes for ticket details.

In the summer of 2016, for the first time in 18 years, the Choir and Orchestra will tour internationally, performing in seven European cities from Monday, June 27, through Saturday, July 16. The tour will kick off with performances in Berlin and Nuremberg, Germany, before heading to Vienna, Austria, and Zurich, Switzerland. Then the Choir and Orchestra head back to Germany for a concert in Frankfurt followed by concerts in Brussels, Belgium, and Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The year also includes a Pioneer Day concert, the fall Orchestra concert, the summer and holiday Bells on Temple Square concerts, and finishes with the Choir organizations annual Christmas concerts. Read each weekly installment of Choir Notes for all the details!