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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 17 January 2010 22:53 |
 Dr. Craig Jessop is Professor of Music and Head of the Department of Music at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He is also the newly appointed Music Director of the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra. These appointments follow Dr. Jessop’s distinguished tenure as music director of the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He concurrently serves as the music director of the Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival sponsored by the Weill Institute of Music at Carnegie Hall. Prior to his appointment with the Tabernacle Choir, Dr. Jessop was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force music programs, where he served as director of the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants in Washington, D.C. (1980-1987); as commander and conductor of the Band of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein, Germany (1987-1991); and as commander and conductor of the Air Combat Command Heartland of America Band (1991-1995). He has also been music director of the Maryland Choral Society, the Rhineland-Pfalz International Choir of Germany and the Omaha Symphonic Chorus.
Dr. Jessop has been on the American choral scene for more than thirty years. The renowned choral conductor has recently stepped down from leadership of the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir after over 12 years of service with the choir. Under Dr. Jessop’s musical direction, the Tabernacle Choir received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Arts. He has recorded over 15 CDs on the Telarc and MTC labels with the Choir and most recently received a Grammy nomination for his work with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Dr. Jessop conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Utah Symphony, working with world-renowned artists Sting and Yo-Yo Ma, and composers John Williams and Michael Kamen. Other artists with whom he has collaborated include Renée Fleming, Frederica von Stade, Bryn Terfel, Audra McDonald, The King’s Singers, Angela Lansbury, Claire Bloom, Walter Cronkite, and Charles Osgood. In 2003, Dr. Jessop conducted the choir and prepared the singers for a performance of A German Requiem at the prestigious Tanglewood Festival with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Rafael Frübeck de Burgos. A much sought-after guest conductor, Dr. Jessop has conducted the Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival sponsored by the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall and the Berkshire Choral Festival.
In addition to his work as a conductor, Dr. Jessop has been active as a baritone vocalist, first as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and later with the choirs of Helmuth Rilling and John Rutter and with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers. He is a previous winner of the Metropolitan Opera regional auditions and San Francisco Opera auditions, and has participated in the Merola Opera training program of the San Francisco Opera.
He lives in the peaceful setting of the northern Utah valley of Cache County with his wife RaNae. They are the parents of 4 children and have four wonderful grandsons. |
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Last Updated on Sunday, 17 January 2010 23:08 |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 16 January 2010 07:37 |
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Cache Children’s Choir is pleased to announce Choirfest 2010. Dr. Craig Jessop of the Utah State University Music Department will conduct Cache valley 4thand 5th graders in a performance entitled "The Whole World is Singing" in the Kent Concert Hall Wednesday, April 21. The program will feature songs from around the world and conclude with "My Blessed Canyon Home" written for the choir by local composer Jay Richards. Choirfest is free and open to the first 400 fourth and fifth graders to register. Use the form here to register. Rehearsal tracks and music will be accessible on the choir website here. In addition, three group rehearsals will be held at the Edith Bowen Laboratory School auditorium from 9:30 -11 on Sat., Feb. 20 and Sat., Mar. 20, and from 1-2:30 on Sat., April 17. On Wednesday, April 21, a 5 pm dress rehearsal with Dr. Jessop in the Kent Concert Hall, USU Fine Arts Center will precede the 7:30 pm performance. Choirfest rehearsal materials will launch with a free inservice will be held on Monday, January 25 from 5-6 pm at USU Fine Arts Center room 214. Interested teachers and parents may register to attend this informational session where the Cache Children’s Choir will introduce the music and repertoire packets will be distributed.The inservice scheduled for Monday, January 25 from 5-6 at USU Fine Arts Center room 214 is designed for parents/educators only. CCC Directors will present the repertoire with a demonstration group. Packets containing the repertoire will be available at no cost to school music specialists and/or teachers who have ten or more students participating. Others (including homeschoolers) can join together and get a free packet for every 10 singers. The packet is available for purchase at CCC’s cost, $7. Vocal tracks will be available online. Adults are welcome and encouraged to attend the Saturday and Wednesday rehearsals. This program is funded by generous donors and Cache County RAPZ tax. Call 752-6260 for more information. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 03 May 2010 20:17 |
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Choirfest 2010
