Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square is revving up for a summer of activities as they take a short hiatus. Several members of the choir tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from the group’s Mexico tour.

The choir regularly monitors the health of choir members, even when they are not traveling and instances of COVID happen with some regularity. When COVID, or any other transmittable illness occurs, those members are not seated in the loft until they are no longer symptomatic, according to choir information.

Shortly after the choir arrived in Mexico City, a couple of members tested positive for COVID and were subsequently isolated and treated. Since arriving back in Utah, an increased number of choir members have shown symptoms and several have tested positive. Likewise, others have travel-related gastro-intestinal illness.

To allow the choir the opportunity to rest and recover, and to prevent the further spread of any illness, the choir has canceled this week’s rehearsal and Sunday’s live taping of “Music and the Spoken Word.” This week’s television and radio broadcast was recorded in Mexico and will be aired as planned.

Despite the delay, though, the choir on Friday announced their big summer concert will be held July 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Conference Center on Temple Square. Free tickets may be reserved now for either evening.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

The Summer Concert aims to celebrate the power of music to unite people from diverse cultures and backgrounds and will feature guest artists Adassa and Alejandro “Alex” Melecio.

Adassa, who voiced Dolores in Disney’s “Encanto,” and sang “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is a Golden Globe, Oscar and Grammy winner. The wife and mother of seven was also involved in RootsTech 2023.

Melecio was a finalist in 2012 on “Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento,” a reality competition show searching for Latino talent. With the support of his wife and five children, the native of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, signed with record label Rumor Records and released a debut album in 2015.

Mack Wilberg, music director, and Ryan Murphy, associate music director, will conduct the Summer Concert 2023.

“The diverse selection of music will serve as a testament to the Choir’s commitment to inclusivity and to the universal language of music,” reads http://TheTabernacleChoir.com.

The concert will be streamed July 15, at 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time on the choir’s YouTube channel and on BYUtv. More information will be updated on the choir’s website.

Newsletter