The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square are preparing for the annual Christmas concerts in December.

On Friday, the groups announced that acclaimed performer Lea Salonga will be the featured guest artist. The guest narrator/master of ceremonites will be announced later.

The concerts will be held Dec. 15-17 at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City under the direction of Music Director Mack Wilberg and Associate Music Director Ryan Murphy.

After two years of concerts affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Salonga will celebrate the Christmas spirit with live audiences.

“We are delighted to have Lea Salonga with us as we welcome the community back to the Conference Center for our Christmas concerts,” Wilberg said. “Her compelling voice will bring the holiday spirit to the hearts of our audiences with joy, peace, light and love.”

Salonga is a multiple award-winning actor and singer renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. She is best known for her Tony Award-winning role in “Miss Saigon.” In addition to the Tony, she has won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards in the field of musical theater.

Many young Disney fans will recognize Salonga as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin” and Fa Mulan from “Mulan” and “Mulan II.”

For her portrayal of the beloved princesses, the Walt Disney Co. bestowed her with the honor of “Disney Legend,” according to a church statement.

Salonga’s currently stars in the HBO Max series “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.” An avid techie and gamer, Salonga divides her time between the United States and Manila, Philippines.

Friday’s announcement signals a return to normal after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 Christmas concerts and closed the 2021 concerts to the public. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, the choir continued its Christmas concert tradition with a special featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell, which was taped in 2020 and aired on television last December.

Although limited in scope and closed to a large audience, the live concert in 2021 had Broadway star Megan Hilty and renowned film and television actor Neal McDonough joined with the choir, the orchestra and the Bells at Temple Square and the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble for a performance that was taped for airing this year.

The concert, “O Holy Night: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir Featuring Megan Hilty and Neal McDonough,” will be broadcast on PBS at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 and on BYUtv at 6 p.m. Dec. 18.

Tickets to this year’s Christmas concert are complimentary but required. Tickets will be distributed through a random selection process and limited to two per household. Those wishing to request tickets are invited to sign up during the registration period, which runs from noon Friday to 11:59 p.m. Oct. 30.

Full details can be found at tabchoir.org/Christmastickets. Admission will be open to those age 8 and older. As was the case for the recent general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the number of tickets distributed will be limited due to the construction in and around Temple Square.

Tickets will not be required for the 30-minute weekly “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 18 following the concerts. The guest artists are scheduled to perform on the broadcast.

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