PHOENIX, ARIZ.
In two stellar performances in front of nearly 20,000 people, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir — often referred to as "America's Choir" — became part of Arizona's centennial celebration Feb. 10-11.
It was fitting that the concerts were just days prior to the state's birthday on Feb. 14.
Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy, speaking to dignitaries and special guests at a VIP reception prior to the performance Saturday, Feb. 11, said that "Church history is intertwined with Arizona's."
He noted the Mormon Battalion trek through the area in 1846-47 and Brigham Young's call beginning in 1873 to colonize the area south of the Colorado River.
"From this humble beginning we now have nearly 400,000 members who call Arizona home," he said.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said it was a "fabulous evening for Arizona."
"The choir is a magical mix of voices and music bound together by abiding faith," she said during the reception. "We are especially blessed by this concert.
"One voice doesn't make a choir and one pioneer doesn't make a state, but together their power and beauty grow beyond our imagination," she said. "We are deeply grateful for that wonderful blessing on behalf of the state of Arizona."
The concert at US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix featured 310 members of the choir and 65 members of the Orchestra at Temple Square; many have connections with Arizona. Announcer Lloyd D. Newell asked any with Arizona ties to stand and about three-quarters of the choir and orchestra stood and cheered. Many waved Arizona flags.
One of those choir members was Jan Speakman Petersen, who grew up in Mesa listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She said it was a long-time family dream to have the choir come back to Arizona. Historical documents show it has been at least 45 years since the choir's only performance in the state.
Sister Petersen said her dad was on a committee 40 years ago to encourage the choir to come back and more recently her brother took over the cause.
"This is a culmination of a great dream," she said.
"Arizona is a great place; a great community of Saints who care for each other. It was so great to be able to bring [more than 300] of my best friends back to Arizona to help celebrate the centennial."
Another who realized a long-time dream was Sharyn Schaffter of Chandler, Ariz., who got to sing with the choir during a sound check on Friday afternoon.
She said she remembers listening to the choir when she was 4 years old and always wanted to sing with "that great big choir."
Now a grandmother, she got that chance when she called into the local PBS station last year during a pledge drive.
"This was always my dream," she said after the rehearsal. "It was like singing in a choir of angels; this must be what heaven is going to be like."
Another guest who got to join his voice with the choir Friday afternoon was a Mesa man whose fourth great-grandfather was John Parry, the original musical conductor of the choir who served until 1854.
"I can't even express what this meant to me," Brad Arnett said following the rehearsal. "I have always felt very connected to John Parry. It was a huge, profound and memorable experience for me."
Charles E. Jones, former Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court and co-chairman of the Arizona Centennial Celebration committee, said the idea of inviting the choir was one of the first proposals presented and committee members were "thrilled" when the invitation was approved and accepted. The concert was billed as one of the "signature" events.
Brother Jones said he is "absolutely pleased" with the outcome. "We wanted to join the choir's presence with the overall centennial celebration; I think we've done that."
Concert promoter Kerry Dunne said there was a certain excitement about this event in the months leading up to it.
"There has been an amazing amount of buzz that it's generated," he said.
Choir President Mac Christensen said on Friday, "We are thrilled to be here."
The two concerts to near sold-out crowds featured a diverse selection including hymns, gospel, classical, show and traditional folk tunes. There was even something special and unexpected during the three encores that audiences enjoyed both Friday and Saturday evenings.
The choir presented "Arizona," a beloved song with lyrics that outline some of the things people love about the state, and two special guests conducted the final song, "This Land Is Your Land."
Friday night, the Most Reverend Eduardo A. Nevares, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, took the stage as a guest conductor, and on Saturday night former United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor led the choir and orchestra.
