Dr. Mack Wilberg was officially named as the new Music Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Dr. Edgar
Thompson, former director of the University of Utah School of Music, was named as the Interim
Assistant to Dr. Wilberg until a formal search is undertaken and completed for a new associate
music director for the Choir.
President Mac Christensen made the announcement to members of the Choir assembled for their weekly
Thursday night rehearsal and to members of the media assembled for a press conference on Friday
morning at the Tabernacle.
As music director, Dr. Wilberg will oversee all musical and creative aspects of the Choir, the
Orchestra at Temple Square, the Temple Square Chorale, and the Bells on Temple Square, including
selecting repertoire for concerts, recordings, and tours, as well as the creative direction for
the weekly Music and the Spoken Word broadcast. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Wilberg served as
Associate Music Director of the Choir and Conductor of the Temple Square Chorale since May 1999.
Dr. Thompson had also been the music director for the University of Utah’s A Cappella Choir, as
well as conductor of the Utah Symphony Chorus and a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Dr.
Thompson was serving in a volunteer capacity to the Choir at the time of his appointment as
Interim Assistant and will help Dr. Wilberg with the Choir and Orchestra until a new associate
music director is named.
A search committee is being formed to conduct a Church-wide search for the new associate music
director. Applications will be accepted beginning in August. They will be reviewed through the
end of the year with an appointment by the First Presidency anticipated in the spring of 2009.
Click here to read the press release.
Choir Director Resigns,
Interim Director Named
