When King's Singer Phillip Lawson stepped out on the stage at the Conference Center for last year's Christmas concert with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "there were more than 20,000 people all cheering. I felt a bit like a soccer star. That is the most amazing venue," he said, in an interview from his hotel in New York, where the sextet was touring.
Christopher Gabbitas, the newest member of the group, seconded the feeling. It was a huge thrill, he said, to be part of "what has to be considered one of the biggest and most important Christmas events in the world. When you think of the numbers it touches — not only a live audience of more than 80,000 over four nights but also with the TV broadcast and DVD and CD — it has a huge reach. It was fantastic to be able to add our voices to the important message coming out."
The CD "Rejoice and Be Merry," featuring the King's Singers with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, has been recently released, along with the DVD of the 2007 concert. That show will also be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide during the Christmas season.
Working with the choir is always "a lovely experience," said Lawson. "They have top people, so you always know it will be a top class project."
When Gabbitas first joined the group in 2004, "the other members of the group spoke fondly of the memories they had built up in working with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We came in 2006 to do the 'Music and the Spoken Word' broadcast, it was everything that the guys had promised and more."
After that trip, there "were whispers that we might be invited to do the Christmas concert, but we didn't know if it would actually happen, because those things seldom do. But when it was confirmed that we would be their guests, we were all very excited," he said.
From the practical side, "staying in the same hotel for six nights was a luxury that we rarely get," said Gabbitas. "We do 130 concerts a year in 130 cities; we rarely stay anywhere more than one night. And we were looked after so well here. Then to work with the same team for a week and with such quality musicians was a joy."
Mack Wilberg does such wonderful arrangements, said Lawson, who does a lot of arranging himself so he knows what is involved. Craig Jessop was the choir director at that time and was also great to work with.
Through the whole experience, added Gabbitas, "we felt that we gained socially, spiritually and musically."
But that goes both ways, says Wilberg. "The King's Singers are always great to work with. They are great friends of the choir and orchestra. And we are so pleased with the way everything turned out."
"'Rejoice and Be Merry' is technically the best thing we've done so far," says Scott Barrick, executive director of the choir. But it's also beautiful musically. "It was fun to see how it all fit together. The King's Singers are sprinkled throughout." They do several numbers on their own and then perform with the choir and orchestra on several more.
"One of the fun things we are doing this year with the CD is producing a music video," says Barrick. It will feature the song "One December, Bright and Clear" by the women's chorus and will be shown on the Internet, he says.
As for the King's Singers, the past year has been a busy one. "We're in New York basking in the glory of the Grammy nomination we just received for our 'Simple Gifts,"' said Lawson.
"But the way we found out about that nomination was in an e-mail from Scott Barrick," added Gabbitas. "The fact that he took time to e-mail us is a measure of the friendship we feel for the people there. We can't wait to come back." Which they will be doing, he said, in February for concerts at Abravanel Hall with the Utah Symphony.
The King's Singers was started at King's College in Cambridge, England, some 40 years ago. Over that time, there have been 19 members — the six original members and 13 replacements, who have come in as older members left. The other members of the group currently are David Hurley, Robin Tyson, Paul Phoenix and Stephen Connolly.
Lawson has been with the group for some 14 years, "and it has been unbelievable," he said. "As a teenage fan of the group, if anyone had told me that one day the second guy from the end would be me, I'd have thought they were crazy."
He was a teacher before he joined the group, "so it was a massive change of routine," but one that he's loved every minute of. "I love the arranging side as well. To do that and see your music come out in print and to hear the group sing it, is quite amazing."
For Gabbitas, too, "I count myself to be among the most fortunate." He grew up with a great love of choral music instilled in him by his parents. "But to reach this pinnacle — that was something that never crossed my mind. It was really a case of being in the right place at the right time."
But being a member of the group also comes with "a huge sense of responsibility," he says. "We work hard and constantly to make sure we keep our standards high. At the end of the day, we are just six English guys who love singing. We are grateful to our fans. We can't sing to an empty hall or an empty church. We feel privileged to sing for the people who come to listen to us."
Lawson was at a concert at his daughter's school recently, "and the headmaster said he had one question, 'what is the most universal language in the world? It's not English,' he said, 'but music.' Music speaks to you wherever you are, whomever you are," said Lawson, "and nobody does that better than the MTC."
E-mail: carma@desnews.com