DENVER, Colo. — Imagine a magnificent roller coaster ride that takes you higher and higher, delighting you with various twists and turns, stirring emotions, bringing a lump to your throat and tears to your eyes and then, all too soon, it's over and you walk away marveling at the experience.
If you can imagine that, then you can picture in your mind's eye what it was like to be at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's concert in Denver's Pepsi Center on Nov. 19. The choir and Orchestra at Temple Square took its sold-out audience of 15,000 along for a musical ride like none they had embarked upon before.
The choir's diverse program drew from its vast repertoire of hymns, choral masterworks, folk music, songs of America and, for the first time to a live audience outside Utah, Christmas selections. Craig Jessop, the choir's music director, and Mack Wilberg, associate director, conducted the choir and orchestra. Richard Elliott accompanied on the organ.
The audience, at various points displayed a wide range of emotions. There were peaceful expressions during the program's segments featuring "Songs of Thanksgiving" and the "Gloria" portion that featured works by Dvorak, Rachmanioff and Rimksy-Korsakov. Smiles, in many cases, turned into fully formed grins as the musicians performed the folk songs portion of the program, which included two all-time favorites, "Cindy" and the Nigerian Carol "Betelehemu," which is quickly becoming a standard for the choir.
The concert was held as a benefit event for the National Sports Center for the Disabled, an adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation agency that helps children and adults with disabilities participate in 20 different sports and activities.
A highlight of the concert was video footage shown on the Pepsi Center's Jumbotron featuring children, teenagers and adults with varying disabilities participating in sporting events, including skiing, horseback riding, cycling, soccer, softball, track and field events, river rafting and mountain climbing. The video was shown as the choir and orchestra performed "Call of the Champions," composed by John Williams for the choir to perform at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
Choir announcer Lloyd K. Newell said the song begins with three words that, when translated, mean faster, higher and stronger. "We perform this tonight in honor of all the athletes who are served by the National Sports Center for the Disabled," he said.
The combination of the music by the orchestra and choir and athletic performances of individuals with disabilities was nothing short of inspiring. Many in the audience were visibly moved by the combination of the video and music.
Before the concert, NSCD President and CEO Robert G. Robinson described Denver as "a Christmas town," saying that practically everything comes to a halt a couple of weeks before Christmas so people can celebrate the season. "The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will kick off that season as it performs holiday music during the concert," he said.
True to Mr. Robinson's prediction, the Pepsi Center seemed to take on a festive air as the choir and orchestra performed seven holiday selections.
Near the end of the concert, Brother Newell acknowledged the presence of men and women from the U.S. military, many of them in uniform. Also recognized were David and Julie MacKenzie, whose son Tyler died in Iraq on Nov. 2 and was buried on Veterans Day. Both sets of his grandparents also were in attendance.
"In recognition of the great service of those who keep us free, and most particularly, for the service men and women who are here tonight, we dedicate the song which won a Grammy Award for the choir," Brother Newell said in introducing the encore number, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Immediately after that selection, the choir and orchestra performed "God Bless America." Several men and women in military uniform stood during the song.
At several points during the evening, the audience stood to applaud. Many eyes glistened with tears, especially when men and women of the military and military veterans were recognized. The applause was thunderous and long lasting.
At a reception prior to the concert, Colorado's U.S. Senators Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar spoke of their admiration for the choir and the National Sports Center for the Disabled.
Dean Singleton, owner of the media conglomerate Media News Group and chairman of NSCD's board, said, "It is truly an honor to have the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here tonight as our partner touching the lives of not only the people in this room but also everyone in the Pepsi Center. For 35 years, children and adults with disabilities have looked to the NSCD to help them build confidence, independence and self-esteem; and it is organizations like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir that make possible the work we do and the dreams we help fulfill."
Among special guests at the concert was Eric Weihenmayer, the first blind person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest.
Elder Randy Funk, Area Seventy, and his wife, Andrea, joined with local Church leaders in hosting the reception.
The concert drew the choir's largest indoor audience outside the state of Utah. It was the choir's first performance in Colorado since 1984, when it performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit NSCD's charity fund. For information about the National Sports Center for the Disabled, see www.nscd.org, or telephone (303) 293-5711.
E-mail to: gerry@desnews.com