For the first time in its 175-year history, participants living outside the United States will join the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square during the upcoming 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 1-2. They will sing with the choir in the Saturday morning session and both Sunday sessions of general conference.

The 10 singers from six countries will be joining the Tabernacle choir as part of a new pilot program, reported ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Georgia Montemayor Wong, of Monterrey, Mexico, described it as “a dream come true” to sing with the Tabernacle Choir.

“We know it’s impossible for those of us who do not live there. So it’s only a dream very, very far away, like you cannot even think about it,” Montemayor Wong said.

The performers are: 

  • Álvaro Jorge Martins of Natal, Brazil; baritone; attorney and graduate of BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School.
  • Rodrigo Domaredzky of Curitiba, Brazil; baritone; architect; stake music specialist.
  • Thalita de Carvalho of São Paulo, Brazil; second soprano; undergraduate degree in choral conducting; stake choir conductor.
  • Elisha Rubo-Oreriba Joseph of Accra, Ghana; second tenor; marketing manager; organist and organ instructor.
  • Jonathan How of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; first tenor; has a bachelor’s degree in music; drum teacher.
  • Denisse Elorza Avalos of Tijuana, Mexico; second soprano; three children; undergraduate degree in architecture; pursuing a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance with an emphasis in opera.
  • Georgina Montemayor Wong of Monterrey, Mexico; second soprano; four daughters; English teacher; stake music director.
  • Ronald Baa of Cagayan, Philippines; tenor; university music professor.
  • Sundae Mae Indino of Cagayan, Philippines; first soprano; pursuing a master’s in education.
  • PeiShang Chung (Kylie Zhong) of Taipei, Taiwan; first alto; degree in music performance and education; music teacher.

Expanding mission

In November 2022, choir leaders announced an expanded mission statement and three pilot programs.

The expanded mission statement now reads: “The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs music that inspires people throughout the world to draw closer to the divine and feel God’s love for His children.”

One of the pilot programs is to invite Latter-day Saint singers from many areas around the world to audition to sing with choir during general conference. 

“The entire Church celebrates Christ. We not only speak His words, but we sing His praises,” said Choir President Mike Leavitt.

“Our goal now is to reach throughout the world to bring peace and healing. More than half the membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lives outside the United States. This is a means by which we not only reflect that membership, but it’s also a way in which we can bring a sense of belonging to people who live all over the world.”

Choir members are required to live within 100 miles of Salt Lake City, due to the organization’s rehearsal and performance schedule and the current four-stage application process can take several months. 

President Leavitt said the pilot program opens the door for others with exceptional musical abilities to also engage on a temporary basis.

Elorza Avalos, of Tijuana, Mexico, said: “I think it’s very, very good for all the talent in the world to [get a chance] to be part of [the choir] because … we sing with all our hearts in our stakes, in our wards, in our choirs.” She is also Montemayor Wong’s sister-in-law, and neither knew the other auditioned. 

Montemayor Wong said that the sisters-in-law were asked to keep their auditions confidential so neither knew about the other’s participation until they received the announcement of their selection.

“She was like, ‘I didn’t know you were auditioning too!’… so she was crying, then I was crying,” said Montemayor Wong.

Choir members are also called to be ambassadors for the Church of Jesus Christ and to share their goodwill and faith through music.

“When they told me … that I’m going to be like a missionary for the choir, I [felt] so humble because I always wanted to serve a mission,” said Elorza Avalos. “Now it’s like two dreams in one — be part of the choir and serve like a missionary.”

Arriving in Salt Lake City

During the selection process, the international participants had to demonstrate their vocal ability and proficiency in music theory and English. They were selected in December 2022 and had digital recordings and virtual practice sessions to prepare. 

They arrived in Salt Lake City the weekend of March 18-20 and joined in choir rehearsals, attended choir school; toured Temple Square, Church’s Welfare Square and Bishop’s Central Storehouse; and visited several Church historical sites.

The group also met with President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor of the First Presidency, and his wife, Sister Kristen M. Oaks, and they sang two hymns for them on Friday, March 25, in the Church Office Building.

“It is a very important step forward,” President Oaks said to the new participants. “It’s something I hoped for many years could happen, but it’s very difficult. You make sacrifices — all of you — to be here.

“People all over the world are going to be proud that the Tabernacle Choir is not just a choir for Utah and Salt Lake City, but it’s a choir representing the whole world.”

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