In a setting much like one of its regular venues, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang to BYU-Idaho students and members of the community in a special performance held in the BYU-Idaho Center in Rexburg, Idaho, on Sept. 21. The choir, accompanied by the Orchestra at Temple Square, felt at home in the university's BYU-Idaho Center, which has been referred to as a small-scale Conference Center.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square perform for more than 12,000 students and community members during a concert at BYU-Idaho on Sept. 21. This performance marked the second time the choir has visited the Rexburg campus; the first time was in 2001. | Photo by Debra Gehris
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square perform for more than 12,000 students and community members during a concert at BYU-Idaho on Sept. 21. This performance marked the second time the choir has visited the Rexburg campus; the first time was in 2001. | Photo by Debra Gehris
"They sang everything from spiritual songs to Broadway classics," said Don Sparhawk, coordinator for the Center Stage Performing Arts series. "From 'Seventy-Six Trombones' from The Music Man to perhaps the choir's most well-known song, the 'Battle Hymn of the Republic.'
"Some of the crowd favorites were the Nigerian carol, 'Betelehemu' that had the choir swaying back and forth and clapping to 'I Got Rhythm,' a George Gershwin song arranged and played by Tabernacle organist Richard Elliott."
This marked the choir's second performance at BYU-Idaho — the other performance in 2001 — and more than 12,000 attended the event, filling up much of the two-year-old auditorium with a capacity of 15,000.
"When the BYU-Idaho Center was designed, the stage was designed to accommodate the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square," said Brother Sparhawk. "It was a fulfillment of a dream to have them here, and we hope they will come back as often as possible. It was as if this great hall was built for them."
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square perform for more than 12,000 students and community members during a concert at BYU-Idaho on Sept. 21. This performance marked the second time the choir has visited the Rexburg campus; the first time was in 2001. | Photo by Debra Gehris
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square perform for more than 12,000 students and community members during a concert at BYU-Idaho on Sept. 21. This performance marked the second time the choir has visited the Rexburg campus; the first time was in 2001. | Photo by Debra Gehris
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square perform for more than 12,000 students and community members during a concert at BYU-Idaho on Sept. 21. This performance marked the second time the choir has visited the Rexburg campus; the first time was in 2001. | Photo by Debra Gehris
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