Mormon Tabernacle Choir organist Robert Cundick will retire after more than a quarter-century with the world-famous choir, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday.
Cundick, 65, will retire effective Dec. 1, 1991. He was appointed Tabernacle organist in April 1965. His principal teacher was Alexander Schreiner.The Sandy native has accompanied the choir on thousands of its Sunday morning radio and television programs and on concert tours throughout the United States and numerous other countries.
Cundick is also an active composer and his post-retirement plans will include a major commitment to that discipline. His compositions include organ, choral, orchestral and chamber music. His best-known work is "The Redeemer," an oratorio-like service of sacred music.
He received the first S. Lewis Elmer Award from the American Guild of Organists in 1970 and was honored with the same award the following year. He is a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists and has served as a national counselor for that organization.