I thought I'd take a break from my normal blogging to answer some questions. These questions came from various friends on Google+ about The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I post many things about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir via shares, likes, +1, etc. I am not bashful about posting that I am a choir member. Please note, that the answers given are from me and are not the authoritative answers from The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. For the official word, check out the beautiful website. Having got the "legalese" out of the way, let's commence.

  • Two similar questions - How hard is it to get picked to sing for the Choir? and How do you receive such a beautiful calling? - Sheila B. DuBois and Elder Anthony Quentin Vaughn
 A good question, Sheila and Anthony. The audition process is done in three steps or phases. The Audition process starts every July until August. The first step is to fill out an application and have your Bishop fill out his part. One needs to be temple worthy. An applicant needs to provide a tape or CD with the applicant performing various vocalization exercises. This consists of scales, arpeggios, and loud and soft singing - all unaccompanied. You will be notified if you were selected from all the applicants to advance. When I auditioned, there were over 250 phase I applicants. The next phase is a musical skills test, where you are tested for not only your musical theory, but being able to distinguish whether passages are in major or minor, whether the played phrases were exactly the same, not exactly the same, or rhythmically different. This test takes 3 hours and is quite a test. I can tell you I've never prayed so hard over before, during, and after that phase. Once again, you are notified by mail if you were successful or not. When I did this, there were approximately 85 other applicants. The final phase is the face-to-face audition with the director, Mack Wilberg, Associate director, Ryan Murphy, one of the organists and maybe another person in there. You are asked to prepare a hymn of your choice to be sung in a key of your choice in front of these people who have to gift of perfect pitch. Sound intimidating? It was for me. You are then asked to vocalize and sight read/sing. I failed the first time, so the next year I started the entire audition process over again, and received "the letter of congratulations". I was one of 57 to make all the way through the audition phases. I will tell you that there are only a certain number of spots open depending on retirees and what part they sing and through attrition. I hope that quick overview answered your questions.

  • Do you have to purchase your ties & matching dresses or is there a big warehouse full of them somewhere? - Abby Kidd
First of all Abby, men don't wear dresses. :) All kidding aside, the wardrobe is provided for each member of the Tabernacle Choir. There is no cost for any of the wardrobe. The Men have 3 suits: Black, Grey, and Blue Blazer, and a Tuxedo. They have 11 ties. The combination to wear for each Music and the Spoken Word and Conference/Concerts is decided by the wardrobe committee. The women's dresses are (from what I understand) all hand sewn. The "big warehouse", I guess could be called the dressing rooms. :)

  • Is that [membership in the choir] a full time employment? How many hours a week [do] you put into it? - Kenneth Cerna
Another good question, Kenneth. Membership in The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is voluntary, but it is a calling that we are all set apart to be Musical Missionaries. We all have our vocations that we do during the weekdays. When the choir goes on tour, or has other event occur during work hours, vacation or leave time is used. Much the same when I was called to be scoutmaster and went to Summer Camp with the scouts. I recently blogged about a typical schedule for being in The Mormon Tabernacle Choir so you can refer to that for my typical week.

  • Do you have a Filipino MoTab member? - Rambo Ruiz
I, unfortunately could not find the answer to this question. Perhaps, if other choir members read this, they can answer this question. The choir does have a diverse ethnic base.

  • How do they do seating charts for General Conference? Every single time, they have every seat perfectly filled! Given that the seating arrangement isn't exactly the same every time (alternatives and such), how do those logistics work? What happens if one of them becomes ill and suddenly has to leave immediately? Are there a few alternates back stage at all times during conference? - Matthew Parks
Lot's of good questions, Matthew. The choir has seating management (one for men and one for women). The assignments are made just before the event. This is based on whether a choir member will be in attendance for that event. There are mandatory rehearsals that one must be in attendance in order to sing at the event. When the choir loft is perfectly filled, the seating managers have successfully done their job. :) There are extra men and women that are ready and able to fill in should there be a last minute vacancy. The choir loft only holds a certain number and the number of choir members exceeds that, so everyone has to take their turn being an alternate. Seating is "generally" done according to height; short in the front to tall in the back. Funny you should mention about if someone gets ill and has to leave - it happens and it happened to me during a session of General Conference. So, during that session of General Conference, the hole get filled by just shifting right or left. And if the person cannot return for the next session, one of the alternates stands ready and willing to jump in there.

This concludes this session of questions and answers. Thanks to everyone who posted a question. If I get enough response, I may do another one. Please note that I nay not be able to answer every question publicly.  I hope this has been informative for you.

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