31-01-2025
Deseret News archives: President McKay announced Tabernacle Choir tour of East Coast in 1958
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Jan. 31, 1958, President David O. McKay of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints paid a visit to the weekly practice of what was then known as the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir.
During the practice, President McKay announced the choir would participate in a three-week ,15-concert tour of the Midwest and eastern U.S., including concerts in Carnegie Hall and other well-known venues.
It was the first tour for the choir since a successful European concert trek in 1955, which President McKay called 'one the greatest missionary works in the history of the church.'
Tour announcements for the choir have always been front-page news in the Deseret News, and the 1958 announcement was no exception.
The group had already been performing weekly on 'Music and the Spoken Word' for 25 years.
The choir had its first performance at a general conference of the church on Aug. 22, 1847 — just 29 days after Latter-day Saint pioneers first entered the valley. The current choir began to take shape in 1869 under director George Careless. The Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir sang at general conference on Oct. 8, 1873, even as the Tabernacle was still under construction.
Per Deseret News archives, the choir burst onto the world stage in 1893, when choir members traveled to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where they won second place in competition and national acclaim.
In 1911, the choir embarked on another historic tour, performing at the White House for the first time, at the request of President William Howard Taft.
The 1911 tour also included performances at the historic New York City Hippodrome Theater, which at the time was billed as the world's largest theater. The group also boarded the battleship USS Utah.
Over the years, the choir has participated in 13 World's Fairs and Expositions, appearing in the great concert halls of North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
Choir members have performed before many U.S. presidents and participated in numerous inaugurations. After the choir sang at President Ronald Reagan's inauguration in 1981, Reagan dubbed it 'America's Choir.' This appropriate name has stuck, based on the choir's popularity and broad appeal to members of every faith and culture for more than 150 years.
Since the 1960s, several of its recordings have attained gold or platinum status. In 1959, the choir received a Grammy Award for 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic.' And in 1987, they won an Emmy Award for 'Christmas Sampler.'
On Nov. 2, 1958, while on tour, the choir sang on the 'Ed Sullivan Show' broadcast, performing 'Hallelujah.' Other stops included Toronto, Washington, New York City and Philadelphia. Performances at New York's Carnegie Hall were highlights.
In 1976, the choir performed across the United States to commemorate the nation's bicentennial.
The choir staged its first European tour in 1955, and returned to western and central Europe in 1973, and northern Europe in 1982.
In 1991, an extended European trip also included performances in Russia, Poland and Hungary. A 1998 trip included performances in Italy, France and Spain.
In 2023, the choir began a world tour called 'Hope.' Stops have included Mexico and the Philippines. This year, the choir will perform in Peru.
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and its performances through the years:
'Tabernacle Choir part of Utah heritage'
'Tabernacle Choir celebrates 100 years of memorable recordings'
'Name change just another part of the Tabernacle Choir's impressive history'
'Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a new name'
