An outstanding series of Temple Square concerts is set for the month of April, including Ian Parker, brilliant Canadian pianist, and the annual Easter Concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.
Unless otherwise noted, all concerts are free and open to the public and begin at 7:30 p.m. Children under eight are encouraged to visit other venues.
Wednesday, April 7—The University of Utah Concert Chorale, under the direction of Dr. John Cooksey, will sing a program of religious and seasonal selections in the Assembly Hall. Dr. Cooksey, director of choral activities at the U of U, is an internationally recognized choral clinician and adjudicator and well-known for his research on the adolescent voice.
Friday-Saturday, April 9-10—The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will perform their annual Easter Concert in the Tabernacle. For free tickets call 801-240-0080.
Tuesday, April 13—BYU’s Philharmonic Orchestra and Combined Choirs will present Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” in the Tabernacle. Orchestral director is Kory Katseanes, with Ronald Staheli, Rosalind Hall, and Vicki McMurray, as choir directors. All four are well-known from broadcasts in recent years throughout the U.S. of BYU’s heralded musical concerts. For free tickets call 801-240-0080.
Friday, April 16—Acclaimed Canadian pianist Ian Parker will perform in the Assembly Hall Clementi’s Sonata Op. 25, No. 5, in f# minor; Louie’s Memories in an Ancient Garden; Chopin’s Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39, in c# minor; Schubert/Liszt’s Gretchen am Spimmrade Auf dem Wasser zu Singen; and Liszt’s Sonata in b minor. Parker has performed with numerous orchestras across North America, Western Europe, and Israel.
Saturday, April 17—University of Utah Singers, under the direction of Dr. Brady Allred, will sing in the Assembly Hall a program in five sections: in celebration of singing; three prayers; music of the elements; American folk hymns; and African-American spirituals. Dr. Allred, director of choral conducting at the U of U, is also the conductor of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh and artistic director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts.
Friday, April 23—Rocky Mountain Strings, under the direction of Ramona Stirling and Deborah Moench, will perform in the Assembly Hall. Performers are the advanced children and youth string students of Stirling and Moench. Many of these students have won awards in local competitions.
Friday, April 23—The Temple Square Chorale and Ensemble of the Orchestra at Temple Square will perform in the Tabernacle. For free tickets call 801-240-0080.
Saturday, April 24—The Northern Utah Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), will present its Honors Recital featuring the winners of vocal student auditions. This recital will be held in the Assembly Hall.
Tuesday, April 27—Eric Gunderson, a guest organist at the Tabernacle Organ on Temple Square, will perform works by Liszt, Prokofiev, Dupre, Handel, Heiller, and Reger in the Tabernacle. Born in Norway, Gunderson has performed throughout Europe and the United States. For free tickets, call 801-240-0080.
Tuesday, April 27—BYU-Idaho Collegiate Singers & Vocal Union, under the direction of Russell Bice, will present a concert entitled “American Bridges” in the Conference Center Theater. Tickets at $6 per person are required; call 801-240-0080.
Friday, April 30—“Joseph! Joseph!,” concert selections from a new opera by Crawford Gates, on the life of Joseph Smith, will be performed in the Assembly Hall. The concert performance will feature George Dyer as Joseph, and many other outstanding singers.