Changes for Temple Square music groups
LDS Church News 2Jan99
By Glenn Guilbeau: Advocate sportswriter

The LDS Church's musical groups based on Temple Square will undergo major changes this coming year. Some of the groups will change names and purposes, and the participation in the groups will change also.

In addition to the well-known Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Church also has had a youth chorus and symphony. Now the Mormon Youth Chorus will change its name to the Temple Square Chorale, and become the training choir for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Mormon Youth Symphony's name will also change, to the Orchestra at Temple Square, and it will no longer have any age restrictions.

The Chorus and Symphony will continue under their old names until after their final concert on May 22nd in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Their long-time musical director, Robert C. Bowden, will relinquish his baton June 1st and retire September 1st.

Also, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's minimum age will be lowered from 30 to 25, but the maximum length of service in the Choir will remain at 20 years. Choir members must also retire from the Choir by age 60.

The three groups, The Tabernacle Choir, The Temple Square Chorale and The Orchestra at Temple Square, will be run by a single Church-service president, who will be assisted by a full-time administrator. Jerold Ottley will continue as musical director of the Tabernacle Choir and Craig Jessop will continue as associate director of the Choir, but will also work with all three organizations. The new associate directors already announced will work with all three organizations. Mack Wilberg, one of the new associate directors, will be responsible for the Temple Square Chorale and Barlow Bradford will be responsible for The Orchestra at Temple Square.