The First Presidency has announced the appointment of Richard Elliott III as a Tabernacle organist, effective April 15.
Dr. Elliott, an assistant professor of music at BYU, will join full-time Tabernacle organists Dr. Robert Cundick, Dr. John Longhurst and Dr. Clay Christiansen. Their responsibilities include daily organ recitals in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, solo performances and accompanying the Tabernacle Choir on weekly radio and television broadcasts of "Music and the Spoken Word," and performances with the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus.Dr. Elliott, 34, was born in Baltimore, Md. He studied at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, from where he received his bachelor of music degree; and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., where he received master of music and doctor of music degrees.
In Philadelphia he also served as assistant organist on the world's largest pipe organ in the John Wanamaker department store.
After joining the Church while a senior at the Curtis Institute of Music, he served as a missionary in Rosario, Argentina.
He married Elizabeth Cox Ballantyne, who was also a student at the Eastman School of Music, in the Washington Temple. She is an active recitalist and a special instructor in piano at BYU. He is a member of the high council of the Provo Utah Central Stake, and organist and music chairman in the Pioneer 1st Ward.