On September 2, 2018, soloist Patrice Tipoki will join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for a Labor Day weekend broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word. She will sing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Tipoki is an accomplished vocal soloist, born in New Zealand but raised in Australia in a musical Maori/Irish family. Her love and appreciation for music developed at a young age as she performed throughout Australia with her family and studied dance, violin, piano, and saxophone. “My parents and my grandparents were all entertainers, so we toured a lot growing up,” recalled Tipoki.

In her impressive musical resume, Tipoki has performed many lead roles, including Elphaba in Wicked, Fantine in Les Misérables, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Nala in the The Lion King. In 2015, she released her debut album, A Musical Heart. In November of 2018, Tipoki will be featured on a new Christmas album by composer Paul Cardall, singing Cardall’s original song, “Son of God.”

Despite all of her musical accomplishments, Tipoki is excitedly preparing for her upcoming performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and recently declared, “For as long as I can remember, it’s been a dream of mine to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They are just heaven! So to be planning it now feels unreal! I have to admit, when I’m practicing for it I get all teary. But I’m happy to get those tears out now so I can be fully present when we get over there. I’m so excited!”

“I love the feeling of being able to sing at the top of my lungs—it’s really exhilarating—you feel like you’re flying,” explained Tipoki in her video for the “I’m a Mormon” series from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see below). Mark your calendar for the September 2, 2018, Music & the Spoken Word broadcast.