O.C. Tanner Gift of Music

The O.C. Tanner Gift of Music is a series of free concerts presented in Salt Lake City by the Utah Symphony and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with soloists, conductors and other choirs as guests. The concerts[1] have been hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) on Temple Square since 1983. The thirtieth anniversary gala concerts[2] were held September 6 and 7, 2013.[3]

Origins

In the 1970s two neighbors Obert C. Tanner, founder of the O.C. Tanner company and Gordon B. Hinckley, a member of the First Presidency of the LDS Church, worked together to foster unity in the growing community of the Wasatch Front. They included the president of the Utah Symphony, Wendell Ashton, and the president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Oakley Evans in these efforts. Their intent was to create a series of free concerts funded by an endowment from Obert and his wife Grace. These concerts would feature the combined talents of the world-famous Choir and the Symphony. Adding famed soloists, conductors and other choirs as guest artists would make these world class concerts.

I think beauty gives more joy to more people over a longer period of time than any other human value.
Obert C. Tanner, [4]

Gifts Of Music

1983–89

1983: Verdi Requiem

Friday, September 16, 1983[5]

The Salt Lake Tabernacle

1985: Americana

1987: Mendelssohn Elijah

1989: operatic and concert selections

Friday & Saturday, February 24 and 25, 1989

Salt Lake Tabernacle

1991–99

1991: operatic and concert selections

Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9, 1991

Salt Lake Tabernacle

1994: Berlioz Requiem

Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, 1994

Salt Lake Tabernacle

1996: DeMars An American Requiem

Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2, 1996

Salt Lake Tabernacle

1998: an Atlantic bridge

Friday and Saturday, November 13 and 14, 1998

Salt Lake Tabernacle

1999: Brahms Requiem

Saturday, February 13, 1999

Salt Lake Tabernacle

2000–09

2000: Vaughn Williams Hodie

Friday & Saturday, November 3 and 4, 2000

Salt Lake Tabernacle

2002: Mahler Symphony no. 8

Friday and Saturday, November 15 and 16, 2002

Salt Lake Tabernacle

2005: a Celtic celebration

Friday & Saturday, October 21 and 22, 2005

Conference Center

2008: an American songbook

George M. Cohan, Richard Rodgers, John Williams, Woody Guthrie, Irving Berlin and other American composers

Friday & Saturday, September 19 and 20, 2008

Conference Center

2009: Mahler Symphony no. 2

Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, 2009

Salt Lake Tabernacle

2011–present

2011: Berlioz Requiem

Friday & Saturday, September 16 and 17, 2011

Salt Lake Tabernacle

2013: 30th anniversary gala

Friday & Saturday, September 6 and 7, 2013[6]

Conference Center[7]

References

  1. Stowe, Dorothy (September 11, 1983). "Tanners offer a gift of music, endow new tradition". Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  2. James Taylor Teams Up With The Mormon Tabernacle Choir abcnews.go.com September 8, 2013
  3. OC Tanner Gift of Music Utah Symphony September 8, 2013
  4. House, Dawn (September 3, 2009). "O.C. Tanner to open in restored historic building". Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  5. Stowe, Dorothy (September 17, 1983). "Verdi Requiem nobly launches Gift of Music". Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  6. Robinson, Doug (September 6, 2013). "American Icons Relish Chance to Collaborate on Concert". Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  7. Artist James Taylor to Perform With Tabernacle Choir lds.org, September 8, 2013