On the Road in 2007: Mormon Tabernacle Choir Plays Nashville by Dick Beeson, husband of Gaye Beeson, second alto Poster outside Nashville's Sommet Center . Tennessee, “The Volunteer State,” welcomed 574 new volunteers to its ranks on Saturday, June 30, when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and members of the Orchestra at Temple Square performed for an appreciative audience of nearly 5,000 at the Sommet Center in Nashville. This was the renowned Choir’s penultimate concert in their 2007 tour of Toronto, Canada; Chautauqua, NY; Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati, Nashville, and Memphis—a round trip journey of 4,843 miles. How to pack for such a trip? What about Choir risers, sound and lighting gear, kettle drums, an organ, a harp, celli, double basses, concert clothing, and the personal luggage for 574 minstrels. Well, it takes: 3 airplanes 11 buses 2 semi trucks 4 luggage trucks And 8 vans Of the 574 traveling with the Choir and Orchestra, 102 are spouses and other guests who have paid to accompany the performers. Forty-eight are supporting staff, including stage crew, sound and light technicians, wardrobe mistresses, security personnel, and the travel and business managers—all in the crucial support of the musicians. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square on on stage in Nashville. Can you imagine what it takes to move choir orchestra, staff, instruments, and guests? The organ travels, too! (Click to enlarge). Nashville, often called “Music City,” is the home of the Grand Ole Opry. Actually, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Grand Ole Opry have a good deal in common. Both of these great musical giants have a long history in radio and television dating from the late 1920s: the Choir from station KSL in Salt Lake City and the Opry from station WSM in Nashville. Of course the Choir was well rooted in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in 1869. The Opry inherited its first home, Ryman Auditorium, which was originally constructed as “The Union Gospel Tabernacle” in 1891. Built in 1892, Ryman Auditorium was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. (Click to enlarge). Vince Gill, Grammy-award winning guitarist and vocalist, said of the Grand Ole Opry, “These days our culture has become disposable. What’s the hip, cool, and groovy thing right now? The encouraging thing about the Opry is that is doesn’t buy into that theory, and I don’t think it ever will.” The audience in Nashville included these enthusiastic missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Click to enlarge). Choir Music Director, Craig Jessop, and Associate Director, Mack Wilberg, champion that same philosophy. They chose for their program in Nashville music ranging through epochs and styles as varied as a 14th-century Sephardic wedding dance and music from movies and the Broadway stage. The audience enjoyed fanfares, hymns, an African carol and ballads. Also featured was some of the Choir’s international folk music—from countries like Germany, Ireland, Russia, Italy, Spain, Nigeria, and the United States. The Choir even presented selections from the Requiems of Mozart and Verdi, who, in their day, also did a bit of ole grand opry. Women of the Choir looked stunning in blue gowns that were new for this tour. (Click to enlarge). Members of the Orchestra at Temple Square acknowledge applause in Nashville. (Click to enlarge). The evening ended with several encores, including “Amazing Grace,” a favorite of Tennesseans of all faiths. As the men of the Choir sang “Bring Him Home,” from Les Miserables, the audience was brought full circle with the words they read on the banner just outside The Sommet Center as they entered, “Music Brings Us Home.”