The Mormon Tabernacle Choir officially joined the American Classical Music Hall of Fame this past Thursday. The surprising announcement was made at the American Choral Directors Association national conference in Salt Lake City.
Tim Sharp, the ACMH’s executive director gave the title, that honors the choir’s dedication to their choral arts and their importance in the world of classical music for over 140 years.
“This remarkable ensemble of 360 volunteers has inspired generations of choral conductors such as you and me through concerts, recordings, broadcasts, tours and prestigious appearances at World’s Fairs and U.S. presidential inaugurations,” said Sharp to Mormon Newsroom. “Together with the Orchestra at Temple Square, they continue to inspire us with their work.”
Ron Berret, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s president said it was an honor and a wonderful experience to receive the American Classical Music Hall of Fame medallion in front of many distinguished musical peers, and choral music lovers. In his speech Berret said,
We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, dedicating their lives to music because of its power to unite and give comfort, peace and joy. We will continue to pursue excellence in song for generations to come.
Besides the medallion, the choir has an engraved pavement stone bearing their name that will be shown on the American Classical Walk of Fame in Washington Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Other Hall of Fame honorary musicians were Aaron Copland, John Philip Sousa, Beverly Sills, Itzak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, Chanticleer, Dale Warland and Weston Noble.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is the most recognizable in the world. They are internationally recognized and in 1929 they started their own radio program called “Music and the Spoken Word.”
