Sixth time in 35 years
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been invited to perform at George W. Bush's presidential inauguration Jan. 20, in Washington, D.C.
"We are thrilled," said Craig Jessop, director of the Tabernacle Choir. "It is always a great honor to be asked to represent our state and the people of the United States."
This is the sixth time the choir has been invited to participate in inauguration festivities. The last time was 1989 when President-elect Bush's father was sworn in.
The announcement of the invitation was made Dec. 24 prior to the weekly CBS network broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word." F. McRay ("Mac") Christensen, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, announced to choir members that they had been invited to participate in the inauguration.
After the broadcast, Lloyd Newell, who provides the "Spoken Word" segment of the program, told the audience of the invitation. Members of the audience gave enthusiastic applause. Brother Newell said that the invitation was extended as a result of a request by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who was in the audience. Sen. Hatch then joined Brother Christensen and Brother Jessop on the podium, where he spoke briefly to choir members.
"Sen. Hatch was a key player in this invitation," said Brother Jessop. "He has been a long-time friend of the choir. We are grateful to him."
The Tabernacle Choir has sung at five other inaugurations: 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson; 1969, Richard Nixon; 1973, Nixon; 1981, Ronald Reagan; and 1989, George Bush.
Brother Jessop said the choir members are still waiting to hear what role they will play in the inauguration festivities. They know, however, that they will sing in the inaugural parade and that their Sunday morning broadcast will originate from Washington D.C., he said.
