Two internationally known musicians have been named associate music directors of the world renowned Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The appointments of Mack Wilberg, professor of music and director of choral activities at Brigham Young University, and Barlow Bradford, artistic director of Utah Chamber Artists and director of orchestras at the University of Utah, were announced Friday afternoon by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Wilberg and Barlow join choir music director Jerold Ottley and Craig Jessop, who was named associate director in 1995. Both Wilberg and Barlow hold doctorates in music and have wide educational experience and performance in their chosen fields.

In announcing the appointments, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "With the rapid growth of the church and the planned completion of the new assembly building in the year 2000, it becomes more important than ever before to provide the very best musical talent and leadership to meet the demands of the coming century."

Tabernacle Choir President Wendell Smoot noted that the two new associate directors bring "formidable talent and broad experience as performers, teachers, composers, arrangers and conductors. We are thrilled to have them join us."

At BYU, Wilberg conducts the Concert Choir and the 240-voice Men's Chorus, which he developed from a small 45-voice group into an acclaimed choir. The choir has produced national television and radio programs and has made a number of successful recordings.

In addition to his conducting responsibilities, he teaches BYU graduate and undergraduate music courses in orchestral and choral conducting, choral literature, piano accompanying, chamber music and score analysis.

Wilberg is a recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award from BYU and received a special recognition from the Utah Music Educators Association.

He is active as a pianist, chamber musician, clinician, composer, arranger and guest conductor throughout the United States and overseas. His compositions and arrangements are regularly performed and recorded by choral organizations throughout the world and published by Oxford University Press and Hinshaw Music.

Wilberg completed his undergraduate studies at BYU and received graduate degrees from the University of Southern California, where he was named the outstanding student in his doctoral class.

He was born in Price, reared in Castle Dale, Emery County, and resides in Provo with his wife, Rebecca, also an accomplished musician, and their four children.

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Bradford is heard regularly in concert halls as a conductor, pianist, arranger and composer.

As a conductor he has performed and recorded with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Utah Symphony and Utah Chamber Artists. As a composer/arranger, he has prepared pieces for performance and recording by the Tabernacle Choir, the Utah Symphony and Utah Chamber Artists. As a pianist, he has been heard in the concert hall, on radio and national television throughout the United States and England.

Bradford completed his undergraduate studies in piano performance at the U. and received a master's degree in orchestral conducting and a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Southern California. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses at the U. in conducting, theory, keyboard accompanying and literature.

He is a native of Midvale and lives in the Salt Lake area with his wife, violinist Jean Bradford, and their four children.

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