Getting to Know the Wardrobe Women Staff

Jan Pugh, Women's Wardrobe Staff

Set apart in December, Jan began right at Christmas which was a crazy time to start! She came to this calling through Teresa Fugate, the new women's wardrobe manager. They are neighbors, and Teresa approached Jan about working in the wardrobe with her and her response was an immediate, "Oh, I think that would be great!" An interview was set up and long story short they called Jan to be a wardrobe missionary. "I never thought I'd be a missionary. It's great, I love being here. I look forward to it every Sunday and every Thursday to come every week. I see new sisters that I've never seen before in my 6 months and I think, 'are you in the choir?' there's just so many to get to know!"

Jan has been a stay home mom, they were in the military where her husband served for 30 years. They ended up in Spokane, Washington for 23 years, and four years ago they moved to Utah. It was a really hard move for Jan but all of their kids and grandkids were here. When her 7 year old grandson would say, "Why don't you move to Utah?" that was pretty convincing!  They have four kids, a daughter and three boys. Their oldest son has autism and "he'll be our forever boy at home." They have 10 grandkids and Jan loves being a grandma.

Jan grew up in the Pacific Northwest in Tacoma, Washington. She likes to read, quilt, sew, and she is a walker so she loves to be outdoors. There's a lot to do here, and her husband is from Utah so he's familiar with all the things to see and do. They met when he was stationed up at the base in Tacoma in a singles ward! 

Sherry Poll, Women's Wardrobe Staff

When Sherry's husband, Farrell Poll retired from the choir 5 years ago, Sherry had no idea she'd be back serving in the choir with him! Farrell was called early in 2023 to be an assistant in seating to Randy Jensen, he asked if his wife could come serve with him. She'd been so supportive of him through his 16.5 years in the choir that he wanted to share this with her. They asked "Does she sew?" 

She has 4 grown children, all married, and 11 grandkids. They are so fun! She chuckled about grandparenting, "You can be the mom you should have been because you aren't practicing!"

Sherry has been called to serve for 3-5 years and started in February. She loves it and it's fun to get to do it with her husband. She loves being a part of the organization. "It's been so amazing. These sisters that are amazing and so beautiful, just getting to serve them it just makes you feel good. You come and you feel good and fills your well up for the week no matter how tired you are you get here!"

Sherry loves to quilt, and she made Halloween costumes every year for the kids. She also sewed school dance dresses, little girl's Easter dresses, and pajamas for Christmas. "But I don't consider myself an alterations specialist!! President Porter told me, 'Don't worry, the angels on the other side will help you.' I've come to recognize that truth just like when the 5 global singers came and we needed to fit them into 2 dresses and we're like, 'wow, that fit her perfectly' and we did so few alterations it was like those angels are just watching out and helping us. We see it on a weekly basis like when a sister will come in with an emergency and we can take care of it quickly in miraculous ways. We see a lot of little things that nobody sees and you realize we are all in this together. It's not just us doing the work. We're just the hands that help."

Teresa Fugate, Women's Wardrobe Manager

With her kids all raised, last summer Teresa was wondering what she ought to do next... she thought maybe she would start working in the temple or maybe be a missionary in the addiction recovery program. 

She recalls seeing a program on TV a few years ago between conferences with Carol Makita doing a special on the Tabernacle Choir and their recent tour. She had seen the women's wardrobe being highlighted, and the staff was packing the wardrobe into tour boxes. She was surprised to learn that the women didn't just keep their wardrobe at home. She realized, "oh, there must be people assigned to take care of the dresses." A spark of interest had begun.

Fast forward and Teresa has a sister, Laura Miller who seems to know everybody and works as a missionary with the choir and Teresa mentioned to her that if she ever heard anyone looking for a volunteer in wardrobe, she'd love to help iron or hem. Teresa was sure her sister didn't think anything of it until one day Laura was on a plane and happened to be sitting next to President Porter. They were talking and the choir came up and President Porter asked if she happened to know anyone interested in helping in women's wardrobe. Her sisterLaura responded that in fact, yes, her sister Teresa would love to do something like that. Soon Teresa received a call from President Porter to come in and be interviewed. Teresa thought she would be coming in to do some ironing. She was told it would be a mission and she thought that was the neatest thing! She was quite honored to be called as a missionary and to be part of the organization. She then realized the call extended to her would be as the wardrobe manager and she was so surprised! She hadn't even seen the wardrobe area and it was just before Thanksgiving, so she was about to learn a LOT about the wardrobe going through the Christmas season as well as the makeshift temporary dressing areas in the Conference Center.

Teresa and her husband have four children, all married, with 13 grandchildren, including 4-month old twins! She enjoys playing with the grandkids, going to the gym, hiking National Parks, quilting and baking pies.

Teresa’s call to serve in the Wardrobe Department was a surprise. Her sister, Laura

Miller, who also serves with the Choir, happened to be sitting on an airplane next to

President Porter and his wife Debi (spelling?). They were discussing choir when

President Porter asked Laura if she knew anyone who could serve in the Women’s

Wardrobe Department. She suggested her sister, Teresa. When Teresa got the phone

call to come in for interviews, she had no idea what the position would entail. She was

honored when she found out she would be called as a missionary.!

“I am very impressed with the women who have gone before me in this calling. I

learned so much from them.” Teresa enjoys working with the Choir Women and getting

to know them. “So many times I feel like it’s a ‘pinch me’ moment; I feel so grateful to

work with the talented people who are in this organization. I love and care for them so

much.”!

Teresa and her husband Richard have four children and 13 grandchildren. They enjoy

the outdoors and hiking around National Parks. Teresa adores her grandchildren,

quilting, going to the gym, and baking pies. Their children are supportive of Teresa’s

family parties like the annual Halloween party (they all have amazing costumes),

Valentine’s party, St. Patrick’s Day “Lucky Leprechaun hunt”, Papa’s annual campout,

going to the mountains to cut down Christmas trees, etc.

Battle Hymn Backstory

Battle Hymn Backstory, By Emily Rice

We've sung Battle Hymn of the Republic a thousand times, but have you ever wondered how this came to be a Grammy award winning signature Tabernacle Choir classic? 

It began with a 2am epiphany.

Before the choir went on the American Tour to the Northeast in 1958, newly appointed Choir conductor Richard Condie made plans with Eugene Ormandy conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, on which songs the Orchestra and Choir would perform together while in Philadelphia. 

One morning at 2:00am, Richard called Ormandy to tell him that he had a number that he would really like to do and asked Ormandy to take a look at a score he thought would do well which the Choir had already performed before, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Ormandy called him back later and told him he was not that excited about the idea and was not sure it would be that good. However, at Condie's encouragement, he relented and agreed to have it included in a recording.

During that tour in fact an entire album was recorded, The Lord's Prayer, released in 1959 as a 45-rpm, in which Battle Hymn was included. Battle Hymn was instantly a colossal hit and soon after, Columbia then released it as a single album. It became the number one best selling recording in the United States for weeks! Life Magazine published an article on the phenomenal popularity and it was a favorite on jukeboxes and with disc jockeys across the country, prompting one reviewer to describe the Choir as "winging its way to unprecedented national attention". Before this, it was simply unheard of for a classical and sacred song to be number one on the pop music stations. 

It was no surprise then that it received the highest award granted to musicians, the Grammy Award for the "Pop" Division as Best Performance by a Vocal Group or Chorus. The Grammy category was for the conductor, and the Grammy was awarded to Richard P. Condie.

This first annual Grammy awards ceremony on NBC in November 1959 hosted by Meredith Willson assembled the nation's top talent: Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Ethel Merman, The Kingston Trio, Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir among others. All the artists knew they had won and the evening was to consist of live performances of the year's most honored recordings. 

Midway in the program, the studio musicians filling in for the Philadelphia Orchestra began the familiar imitation of a slow march beat, followed by the muted fanfare of distant trumpets. The doors in an elaborate stage set parted, framing nearly 300 singers clad in blue as Richard P. Condie led them in the words "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." The amateurs from Salt Lake City performed with the nation's top musicians that night in Burbank, giving the choir a visibility which it had never enjoyed before, increasing the fame of the Choir and making the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a household name that was recognized around the world.

Earworms

Earworms... ewww! Do you get them? You are not alone! Over 90% of people report experiencing the melodic earworm phenomenon at least once a week, and those with a musical background have actually been found to be particularly susceptible. I'm currently listening to Temple Square Chorale snippets free of charge in my head.

But why? What is the science behind it? Not surprisingly, this often occurs after engaging with a catchy piece of music frequently or repeatedly, until the tune is stuck in your head. You may be unable to shake it off and you might find yourself singing it out loud! Earworms are sometimes known as Involuntary Musical Imagery.

The actual word "earworm" is a centuries old English word and was another name for earwig, which similarly was believed to crawl into your ear! As musicians we know first hand that tunes can literally crawl their way into our ears! Gladly so, most times! But did you know that earworms can be considered by psychologists as "thought intrusions"?

The Kennedy Center has studied earworms and found they are a musical memory that can repeat uncontrollably for hours, days, even weeks at a time. You may find music trapped in a sort of loop, a tight neural circuit from which you cannot escape. Research indicates that nine out of ten people have experienced earworms that have lasted for an hour or longer. A few unfortunate folks even report having a song stuck in their heads for a year or more!

In a 2016 study, the melodies of frequent earworms were studied and found to have the following three common characteristics:         

-upbeat tempos. Think "Standing on the Promises". It has been admitted by Ryan that his arrangement was formulated and composed while walking the track at his local rec center. Literally on loop!

-simple melodic contour, particularly when the first phrase rises in pitch and the second falls. Nursery rhymes often follow this pattern, making them easy for young children to remember, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Or one we do often of Mack's: "Simple Gifts".

-unique intervals between notes, such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Our own choir doctor Dave Palmer pointed out to me that the theme tune for NBC has the same catchy interval as our opening sign-on, "Gently Raise the Sacred Strain". Ok, yes, that's where I had heard it!

In order to get stuck in your head, earworms rely on brain networks that are involved in perception, emotion, memory, and spontaneous thought. They may show up when you are feeling good, or when you are in a dreamy (inattentive) state. Maybe you are stressed about having too much to think about. It's as if your stressed-out brain latches onto a repetitive idea and sticks with it. 

Music has such a repetitive nature, and processing it in our brains actually becomes pleasurable when it is understood subtly different each time it is repeated. As humans we are attracted to repetition, even as adults. We want the stimulus and the reward again and again, and in music we get it. This kind of activity can give various advantages to the brain, contributing to clear thinking and creativity. Perhaps, therefore, we should not be surprised when the balance sometimes shifts too far and our musical sensitivity becomes a vulnerability.

If you are feeling plagued, however, here are a few ways to get rid of those pesky earworms, according to experts:

-Listen to the whole song. Enjoying the entire song often eliminates it from "being stuck on a loop" in your head. It is commonly believed that earworms occur when you remember only part of a song. Resisting the song may actually make your brain keep playing it over and over again.

-Distract yourself from the song. Think of -or listen to- a song you like better!

-Let it fade naturally on it's own.

-Chew gum. One study showed that when people chewed gum right after listening to an especially catchy tune, they were less likely to be invaded by an earworm!

As performers in this organization we are often putting ourselves at high risk! Fortunately we are constantly blessed with the most glorious music by Mack and Ryan, creating earworms to enjoy long after a broadcast or concert is over. Too bad for others who get tunes like "Baby Shark" stuck in their heads. Aaaaand there we, go. "Baby Shark" is now your current earworm.

Quick, go chew some gum or listen to a Tabernacle Choir playlist on Spotify. 

Darren Frank Music Cart

A Librarian's Labor of Love

Choir members have music boxes, but have you ever wondered how the orchestra receives their music folders? Delivered directly to their stands! But how? Approximately 60 music folders are filled each week with new music in the main library by Bill and Scarlett Holman, orchestra head librarians, and then transported via music cart to either the stage in the Tabernacle or across to the Conference Center. Until December of 2022, a very basic utilitarian cart was used to accomplish this. 

Not long ago, Darrin Frank, a newer assistant librarian for the orchestra and a member of the viola section, noticed some issues with the two makeshift carts used for transporting folders and suggested the idea of making a new cart. This idea was approved, materials were purchased, and brainstorming with the head librarians yielded a wonderful, new 3-D design. Conductor scores would no longer be exposed to the elements while crossing outside to the Conference Center and folders would no longer jostle their way out of the cart with each sidewalk crack. Other important upgrades included taller dimensions for folders to be kept upright and larger swivel wheels for easier maneuvering in tight Tabernacle spaces.

Because Darrin wanted the cart to look like it belonged to a first-class organization, he used cabinet grade maple veneer plywood, simple trim work, and a beautiful finish with dark oil-based gel stain. The build ended up being a spare-time, family-first kind of project and was finally completed for use this past December when two carts were needed again for the two sets of music folders used in the Christmas concerts, devotional, and broadcasts. Without fanfare, this beauty made it's debut and regularly receives admiration from orchestra members passing by! It is difficult to not notice and if you are interested in admiring it for yourself you can usually find it standing majestically onstage during rehearsals or just backstage during performances. For many years to come, it will serve faithfully as the primary storage and transporter for the orchestra music folders, and as a true legacy of love. The old cart will not be retired just yet as it is still needed when a second set of folders are needed.

Amazing work, Darrin Frank! 

An OTS Beginning

 The Orchestra at Temple Square was the brainchild of former Choir director, Craig Jessop. His vision was that we would have a world class orchestra that would provide accompaniment to the Choir. By having an orchestra, the Choir would expand its musical repertoire and could record without the enormous cost of hiring professional musicians. Of course, the Choir had performed and recorded prior with several major orchestras, but to have its own accompanying ensemble would prove essential. 

President Hinckley announced in 1999 there would be a symphonic orchestra created to serve as a companion ensemble to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! A notice was put out to the Church that auditions would take place, and members of the recently dismantled Mormon Youth Symphony were invited to come audition. It was from these auditions that an orchestra would be formed.  The original Orchestra at Temple Square had about 100 members.

The next question was how to use the Orchestra. Barlow Bradford was appointed as the first director of The Orchestra at Temple Square, serving from 1999-2003. President Faust was in attendance at the first rehearsal on October 16, 1999 and addressed the members of the new orchestra on that occasion. “We are making history in this dispensation this morning. We are plowing new ground. Never before in the history of the church has there been an undertaking of this magnitude with respect to orchestral music. The vision of the First Presidency is that over time this orchestra could achieve excellence and prestige in national and even worldwide musical circles. It will require consecration, sacrifice, and dedication.” 

The orchestra began by performing a concert series of orchestral masterworks, and they participated in the production and eventual recording of Savior of the World. By 2000, the Orchestra performed on broadcasts about once every 6 weeks. It was difficult contacting the players and matching the players with the broadcast needs. In the summer of 2001, a group of winds, brass, percussion, and a flute and harp (about 20 players) accompanied the Choir on their Southern States Tour. It wasn’t until 2004 that a full orchestra joined the choir for the ACDA convention in Los Angeles. At that point, Craig Jessop announced they would never tour again without the orchestra, the contributions were so significant.

Interesting to note is Mack Wilberg’s appointment as assistant conductor was coincidentally in 1999.  Mack Wilberg’s composing and arranging talents would be used specifically to the dynamics of the Choir and Orchestra in ways that would change millions of people through music. The evolution of the OTS in the last 23 years has come from many consecrated efforts, an incredible vision turned reality.

If the Shoe Fits: the Backstory of Mint Slippers

Mint Slippers can be one of the favorite parts of Keeping Tab and yet WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Mint Slippers? I did a little investigating, and after interviewing several previous editors, I was nearly at a loss. No one knew. Apparently, we just kept printing them every edition as one of our most popular columns! I continued my search looking online for the phrase. Perhaps it was a slang term used from a bygone era? Well, my online search simply yielded a lot of mint colored slippers for sale! But, a dead end. The phrase "mint slippers" was turning out to be quite the slippery phrase!

Finally, I struck gold and found a secret stash of Keeping Tab magazines being kept since the early 1970's. One of our previous members and editors, June Allred has an incredible archive! There, as I'd hoped, I was delighted to find the Mint Slippers column, where much like our current conductors, Jerry Ottley, Jay Welch, Spencer Condie and others were on record with all kinds of choice one liners or slips of the tongue.

Wait. Slips... Slippers! Could it be? I wanted to smack my forehead.

Pouring over these vintage editions it was interesting to note that prior to being called Mint Slippers, the column was titled "Did I Say That?" and "A Famous Conductor Sez..." and "Quotable Quotes from Famous Conductors", meaning the conductors of the Tabernacle Choir. The earliest sighting of it's use as Mint Slippers was in 1979 where the column was titled "Ku'tsu or Mint Slippers". The choir had just returned from a tour to Japan! Many of the articles of that edition had Japanese references. So I looked up "Ku'tsu" and in Japanese it means shoes. Haha! Japanese for shoes and Mint Slippers! Clever!! It was starting to come together!

But why Mint? My research found, and you may already know, it is a British phrase that began as a way to describe something new, perfect or of the highest calibre (think of coins in "mint condition" from the Mint). But currently it can also be used as slang in much the same sense as Awesome (US) and Brilliant (UK).  So if you give someone some positive news, they might say "Oh, that's mint, that is!" 

We may never know who actually coined the phrase "Mint Slippers" but it does seem unique to our organization, and likely one of our own clever choir members on staff. But if the shoe fits, and it's a catchy phrase, it lasts for over 40 years! Mack, Ryan, and Leanna ought to find consolation in knowing they are in a long line of conductors keeping us on our toes and entertained with their funny quotes, analogies, and slip-ups.

-----------------------------------------------------

Some favorite Mint Slippers I came across from the 70's and 80's:

"I gave you all that rhythmic introduction-- and you came in like a pie on a wall!"

"Basses! You sound like you need your furnace filters changed!"

About staying late: "I'm as glad to get rid of you as you are to be gone."

About the sole soprano who always holds on-- "I'm going to put on a dress and disguise myself and see if I can find her!"

"I won't grind my teeth any more, because they are getting smaller."

To a certain organist: "You see, you can be wrong even though you're a genius. I can't be wrong because I'm not a genius!"

On quality--"I want the cream! This is not a diet!"

"I'd sooner you sing with more thought and less voice!"

"Tenors, we just have two problems: one is finding the pitch, and the other is when to sing."

"Lets record 'Bring the Torches' while it's hot."

(After a flourish on the organ by John Longhurst) "You've been spending too much time at Pipes and Pizza, John."

"Longhurst, that's a forte piano, not a forte organ!"

"When you have a good bright vowel, proceeded by an 'L', get the "L" out of the way!"

"Men take the sweet potatoes out of it. It's not I YAM, it's I.... AM."

"Sing it down where it belongs. Put a little hair on your chest."

"All Bob has to do is play the organ. I work!"

"You often sound like 'Utah High Mountainese' instead of Latin."

(During "He's got the Whole World in His Hands)... "No, altos! Not so boisterous! It's just a little bitty baby!"

"Don is one of these guys who is so skinny he has to run around just to get wet in the shower!"

Editing some music: "And remember, no breath after death. That's obvious, isnt' it?"

Writer... Write Her... Right Her

I am a writer. Well I don't actually believe that because we all are. Writing is just harnessing words which we all do every day. I'm not a particularly commanding speaker, nor do I seem to hold people's attention for long... whether that's my annoying voice or my delayed brain function I'm not really clear about why. But if someone says, hey can you help me word something? Oh, I'm your girl. I want in. I can craft well with a slowed down process and if I can weigh out the effects of different attempts. Yes, I love words so much. I love their power and effect. I love that when used properly they can change the course of someone's life. But you must be aware of the nuances, the backstories. That's where Emily has "entered the chat".

I've had a few people strongly encourage me to write. I have a couple of ideas. But what is my style, genre, or niche? Maybe uncovering insights from under rocks unturned? Maybe in writing personal notes to people about what they mean to me. I don't know if people want to read whole books about that. I barely know if they want to read their notes I write.

Recently I was called to be a RS Society teacher. Really, I am a facilitator. Maybe a commentator on comments shared. Maybe I'm supposed to lead a conversation through certain hoops to a grand finale. Eh, can I just be the main person in a conversation? If I think about it like that, like I'm having a personal conversation with the entire RS, then maybe I'm going the right way. I need to become a good interviewer of others. Ask good questions. Questions that are not loaded with assumptions or opinions. Be curious and teachable and interested in knowing more. Being a student of the students, aaahhhh. But it's live and I can't backspace or tailor the conversation to the individual because there are 40 different women with 40 different experiences and takes on life that likely even contradict each other. So it's an exercise in applying thought generally enough that they can pick up individualized insight. I need to pray for me.

One thing I've noticed is that I could work on sifting through details that matter or not. Sometimes I think the reader needs all the details for a full picture. I'm learning that I can do more succinct writing using careful vocabulary laced with all kinds of information. I'm also learning that not all details are actually important. But have you ever read a news article and scanned every word for more details only to be left wondering? I hate that. Am I nosy? Perhaps. Am I trying to be judge and jury? Definitely. But am I wrong? No.

I'm a Butterfly

Hello, let me re-introduce myself. I am Emily, and that part you already know. But now I am EMILY so hear me roar. I might be roaring because I've been busy becoming. Changing. Morphing more to the Emily I really am inside. Like whittling wood into the shape it was meant to be.
What have I been learning?
Oh all the life lessons.

Well at least the ones so far. The ones so far have taught me:
1. I am not in control
2. I can control things I thought I couldn't
3. My destiny is up to me and no one else.
4. OK fine, God is heading up my destiny, I just need to follow and execute.
Sounds like stuff I already knew. I knew it but I didn't know it until I found out.

But it's only through crossroads that we find out what we know. 2016 was a crossroads year. I've been in therapy to try and understand my specific lessons better. I've been in the ring like it's the fight of my life, like go big or go home. All in. And God is refining me like no other. So I say bring it.

I've written letters to myself and others. I've identified what my losses have been and envisioned myself healthier and most of all, unSTUCK. I've found a sacred space where I can converse with God about what matters to Him, where I can nearly always get instant feedback.

I love my newself. I appreciated my oldself for what it did for me at the time. But I am roaring right into my newself with purpose and proactivity. Watch out all, I am all kinds of quirky and I'm ready to be carved into my one of a kind art in the hands of God.

A Day in the Life of an Orchestra Member on Tour (Concert Day)

Every night on tour before going to bed, my roommate Christine and I overthink the next day's schedule. Yes, we overthink. We often joke that we need to overthink so we don't underthink. :-)

The whole objective of tour are these very concert days, and our aim is to be as exact and prepared as possible. The performer itinerary is detailed, but we also have toured enough to add in a few of our own strategies. Depending on the call time and the distance needed to travel, we might have a day that starts with breakfast and buses as early as 6:00am or as late as 10:00am. The trick always is to plan ahead to beat the rush. Imagine 600 people descending on hotel elevators for either food or the bus ride not to be missed! Full elevators opening at your floor with no room is the norm! So we have a plan.

Before leaving our room we prepare our day bag. Christine and I have learned to prepare for almost anything. Typically we pack an umbrella, bus blanket, a jacket, pillow, a book, a snack, our phones and a few other small helpful items. We've checked the weather, but make no assumptions about summer or a climate we are not familiar with. Our clothes were laid out the night before as we wear skirts and try to balance looking cute with being practical. We've got our nametag on and credentials on a lanyard about our neck and most importantly, we grab our instrument! Those of us who have smaller instruments such as our violins keep them close to us at all times which is fine except when trying to squeeze into an elevator. :-)

Marriott Marquis, NYC

For that reason, Christine and I plan to be in the first 1/4 of the group down the elevators and at the loading of the buses. This requires at least a 30 minute jump on the actual itinerary requirement but eliminates stress and waiting time in the end. Our tour manager has developed a system called load and go, so that buses can get in one at a time, load up with people, and head off to the destination. Typically this is done, bus by bus, until all 11 buses are filled and en route. No one takes role. No one is assigned a bus (except bus captains) and we are asked to unattach from friend groups and simply load to streamline the process. The average age in the organization is 45, so if you miss the buses our leaders say we are grown up enough to figure out our own way there -no one waits and you will be left! It's happened! Thus we overthink so we don't underthink. :-)

Marriott Marquis breezeway

Barry, tour manager

Typical Bus Day

Once on the bus, the bus driver is in full work mode, chatting over CB with other bus drivers about the route and their GPS destination and the arrival time is set. The bus drivers drive their assigned bus for the entire length of the tour and we get to know them pretty well! Each bus is also assigned a bus captain(s) prior to tour. These are choir or orchestra members and their spouses and they give us more information as we begin the bus ride. Over the microphone they remind us of the plans for the day, call on someone to give a prayer to bless us with safety, and then begin a 20-30 minute DVD that has been prepared by the missionary committee. These videos include entertainment thought up and performed by members of our organization as well as informative "behind the scenes" interviews that help us understand the many roles and hats that are brilliantly performed so we can become as efficient and impactful as possible. I enjoy these interviews with stage crew, wardrobe, the concertmaster, etc. that we might otherwise never know about! Some clips are spiritual thoughts or personal stories that are beautiful to come to know. Some clips are our choir president, tour manager or choir director giving us the "backstory" about our performance ahead and how it came to be.

The DVD ends and everyone settles in for the duration of the trip to our concert hall. These trips have been anywhere from 15 minutes to 7 hours. Looking around you will mostly see people resting, chatting, reading, being busy on their phones and an occasional singing of "happy birthday" by small groups of choir members over the phone to a loved one back home.

Arriving at the concert venue is always exciting. We usually enter through a back entrance to backstage and are greeted immediately by our stage crew and the venue's stage crew that have already prepared brightly taped arrows on the floor to give us direction, signs on doors indicating changing areas and tables set up for us to set our instruments down. The stage is already set and we begin with a soundcheck that takes a couple of hours. When we arrive, the organists are already flexing their pipe muscles while we assemble ourselves onstage. Our music is on our stands, the lights are up, individual and group mics are in place and within about 20 minutes most everyone is assembled and ready to rehearse. We are so spoiled, it must have taken many hours to prepare for our arrival. 

Saratoga Springs, NY outdoor venue, view from balcony

Strathmore, Washington DC first concert of tour soundcheck

Soundcheck at Carnegie Hall, 2nd violins

A soundcheck is very important to us for several reasons. Can we hear each other? What will the sound be like? Is it hot and humid or dry? Does our sound stop in the air or does it carry? Every venue is different. We rehearse trouble spots, we rehearse transitions, we rehearse anything that is a change from the norm, and while we do so, the sound engineers adjust for all the variances of the space until everyone can hear across the orchestra and we all feel confident that we will successfully stay together because the sound is optimal. We trust the expert ears of our conductors and sound engineers that they are creating clarity in our sound and making necessary adjustments. My job is simply to give my best sound while blending with those around me and following every small nuance the music and our conductors ask. I'm also usually gauging my energy levels so I can make adjustments in myself before the concert, whether I need rest or food or both. While it is tempting to take photos because we are always in gorgeous settings and halls, we are asked not to bring cameras onstage. However there is a photographer with us snapping pictures from every angle imaginable and we will have access to those pictures later.

Wang Theater, Boston... Not my photo, stolen off facebook

At the conclusion of the soundcheck we are released to put our instruments away and head to dinner. Security will stay with our instruments. Dinner is usually served to us nearby so we walk to a large reception hall where 4-8 buffet lines are prepared as well as tables as far as you can see! We drop our day bags into seats at tables we might share with friends or take a chance and make new friends and then go get in line. It might be a Mexican night and there are usually 8-10 entrees to choose from and it always tastes amazing and is beautifully set up. These meals are the perfect time to get to know new people either in line or at a random table. Many a friend I have made at mealtime!

Dinner at Saratoga Springs, NY

Dinner at Strathmore, Maryland

Walking around Strathmore after dinner

If there is time to find a place to rest for a few minutes, many people do. Some take limited walks about the grounds. We all find ways to help us mentally and physically prepare ourselves for the demands of the concert ahead. It is also a time to begin changing into our wardrobe clothes and freshen up how we look. We go get our clothing out of wardrobe boxes that are like rolling closets and then go change wherever you can find a 2ft. by 2 ft. space in the assigned backstage dressing rooms, because it's really crowded and dressing rooms aren't typically prepared to accommodate a group our size!

Final Concert at Wang Theater in Boston

Backstage in instrument case room, Carnegie Hall

Choir friend Starlyn in wardrobe changing area, Boston

Bethel Woods, NY just before the concert, got my braids on

Changed and beautified (ha!), we get back to our instruments, and onto the stage. By this time, the choir members have begun lining up backstage and down hallways, men on one side and women the other. They find their specific order in long snaking lines with occasional numbers on cards being held up by line leaders so there is organization. Some have bells, some have water bottles, and no one has music. It's fun as an orchestra member to walk past everyone in line and head directly to the stage. The stage crew has a busy job making last minute adjustments and corralling all the performers. While the choir files onto stage, I go to my seat, put my microphone on my violin and begin to warm-up my fingers. Most of all I begin to center myself to have the spirit in me. This is the purpose of tour, to testify and edify those who have come! I want to give them my very best and allow the spirit to raise my abilities. I turn to my stand partner Christine, we encourage each other and then it's time to bring everything we have to the table.

Carnegie Hall NYC

Saratoga Springs, NewYork

Performing in a concert is pretty surreal. I don't quite feel like I'm having a human experience and yet I am employing muscles and brain power at full capacity. There are connections happening everywhere. I connect to my stand partner, my section, the director, the choir, the audience, and the spirit. Sometimes it feels like an electricity in the air! We know this music well and yet it reinvents every time. There develops a personality to the audience and because I sit so close to the front of the stage I can often make eye contact with people who have come. One of my favorite things to do is notice their love grow for the choir as the concert progresses. Hearts are softened, I see joy and surprise and delight, and their enthusiastic applause is always a genuine "please don't stop". I appreciate Mack Wilberg's genius programming abilities and clearly he is in tune with the Lord's will and design. Audiences have something to love in every performance! I am very proud of what we have to offer and often feel we are helped to be more than we are in some pretty magical moments.

Following the performance, there isn't much time to linger. It is amazing how quickly everyone gets backstage, changed back into day clothes, wardrobe returned and we are out the door to the buses while grabbing bottled water provided at the exits. We are fully exhausted and yet energized by the experience, and you hear lots of commentary chatter about how the concert went and was received as we hustle out and "load and go" onto the buses. Even while we are exiting the building, stage crew is already busy breaking down the set. As late as we are likely to get crawling back into our beds we imagine practically no sleep for others whose "2nd performance" as stage, lights and sound crew is just beginning.

The buses are dark, and I might make a quick phone call to my husband to let him know how the concert went and to check on the kids back home. I make sure my roommate is settled onto the bus and that I haven't forgotten anything in the flurry of making the exit. I might text a couple of friends in the orchestra/choir about the concert or just to have a laugh. But before nodding off to sleep in my seat, I have tomorrow's itinerary out to study and I begin again the "overthinking" so I won't be "underthinking".  I want to be ready for whatever is asked. :-)

And that's a day in the life of an orchestra member on tour.  I love it. Every bit.

matching jammies for tour to make my roommate laugh, it worked

Elder Rice the Elder returns HOME

I have to say, this experience was most like when they place a baby in your arms for the first time, except only the very best parts.  You want to just hold them, check to see if they are whole, listen to them express themselves, and marvel at the miracle.

I felt waves of emotion becoming more and more frequent the closer it became to seeing him.

The enthusiasm around me seemed incredible. So many people have their own relationships with him, not just me, so of course it would be that way. When he finally was visible I felt everything in slow motion and his hugs are THE BEST. They always have been. But I finally let go so everyone could share in what I was feeling and get their hugs also.

He just went from person to person, deep hugging, with so much energy and the biggest grin on his face! He said there was so much energy in this welcome, that he was nearly exhausted! He was mostly laughing and couldn't stop smiling. How great!!!!!

Michael's parents, my parents, his siblings and their families were all there. Kenzie's parents were there as well as all her siblings and families, too! It was a great crowd! Fun signs, too!

Not only was there family there, but a real treat was that President Crawford, who was released in July from Benson's mission, was there to greet all 7 missionaries coming home to SLC at the airport. He waited until Benson had made his rounds and then grabbed him by the shoulders and gave him a mini exit interview talk. He told him that you only return once, so soak it up, take it slowly and enjoy it all. He told him he was proud of him and loved him.

Eventually, we got the luggage bus pulled around the front and loaded up his things. Just our family and Kenzie rode in the bus, and it was so fun to have him all to ourselves, too!

His release was like a beautiful strength I'd never seen before. He spoke of stories, of strengths, of testimony, of difficulties, and I was in awe.

The evening was spent back at our house having soup/bread for dinner, and just talking, laughing, asking questions and taking our time. I loved every minute.

Favorite Christmas Videos of the Season :-)

Post by Beat 102 103.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLoWt2tfqg&list=UUmKurapML4BF9Bjtj4RbvXw