On your mark, get set, go start your Christmas music video.
Temple Square Performances issued a worldwide call Thursday for submissions of music performances to be edited into virtual Christmas concerts to be broadcast on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and used in the annual Light the World Christmas initiative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City.
Anyone can submit a Christmas music performance, including original songs.
The only hitch is that Christmas Eve is coming soon, even if the goose isn’t yet getting fat. Halloween may be next week, but the deadline for the Christmas music video submissions comes well before Thanksgiving. Each person or group can submit up to two video performances by Nov. 15.
The virtual Christmas concerts will replace the hundreds of musical performances held on Temple Square every December, including the school choirs that sing in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building each day. COVID-19 restrictions prohibit those live performances.
Last year, the church asked for submissions to help it update its news hymnbook and received 17,000 original songs.
Solo performances will be accepted for the Christmas concerts, but organizers will prioritize groups and ensembles including choirs and instrumental groups. Organizers hinted that they expect high school and college choirs will be among those submitting videos.
The Light the World initiative annually inspires millions of people to celebrate the light of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season.
They are seeking a range of music, from the Christmas classics to fun, lighthearted holiday songs and inspiring, worshipful ones. They emphasized their desire to receive submissions from all cultures and traditions.
Email submissions to ChristmasatTempleSquare@ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Details on audio and visual specifications are available in a Frequently Asked Questions document online.
Performers are asked to follow social distancing and church dress standard guidelines in the videos.
“The number of performances will be based on number of submissions we receive,” the document said. “Schedule information will be available on this website as the Christmas season approaches.”