Those who were lucky enough to attend the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) concert in February were treated to a beautiful rendition of "This Little Light of Mine” by two-time Grammy Award winner Sylvia McNair and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. McNair’s three-decade career spans the musical territories of musical theater and cabaret, opera, and oratorio, and she has been featured as a soloist with practically every major opera company and symphony orchestra in the world. 

“This Little Light of Mine” is a children’s gospel-folk song by Harry Dixon Loes and is based on verses from the New Testament, including Matthew 5:14-16, Luke 11:33, John 8:12, and John 9:5. During the concert, McNair inspired the audience with her effortless interpretation of the Moses Hogan arrangement. The Choir’s supporting vocals added the perfect touch to the soothing clarity of McNair’s vocals.

While she was in Salt Lake City, we interviewed McNair and asked if she had a specific song that she turned to during the trials in her life. She replied by saying, “What I turn to is, ‘this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, all through the night, I'm gonna let it shine, because my God gave it to me. I'm gonna let it shine.’”

The ACDA concert took place on February 28, 2015, and also featured actor Santino Fontana and the United States Air Force Singing Sergeants. Watch the video of Sylvia McNair and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing “This Little Light of Mine.”