Around the World with America's Choir

onald Reagan was right on the mark when he labeled the Mormon Tabernacle Choir "America's Choir." But ever since this American choir started performing in a dusty desert in northern Utah in 1847, it has been singing to the entire world.

For more than 150 years, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has delighted and inspired people of all walks of life and all religious beliefs with its music. The broad appeal of its music and its storied history have made it one of the most revered and best-loved musical organizations in the world.

What does one call a Choir that has performed for 10 U.S. presidents, earned numerous gold and platinum records, won a Grammy and entertained millions of people in 28 countries and 71 foreign cities?

If you're talking about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, you can call them volunteers.

Even though these artists sing like professionals, they aren't paid for their labors. There are 360 singers accompanied by a volunteer orchestra of 110 musicians. Most of them have day jobs, and when the Choir goes on the road, they use their vacation time.

Even though the scope and reputation of the Choir has grown—not unlike its sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—some things never change, like its weekly broadcast Music and the Spoken Word, which has been on the air continuously since 1929. And the quality of the Choir's music has continued to grow and grow.

After listening to the Choir at his 1989 inauguration, President George H. W. Bush proclaimed it "a national treasure."

Eugene Ormandy, renowned conductor of the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra, called it "the world's greatest choir."

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was originally housed in an adobe building, accompanied by an organ shipped from Australia to California and pulled by 12 mules across rugged terrain from San Bernardino to Salt Lake City.

America's Choir has indeed come a long way from those early beginnings. Today you're likely to see them on 60 Minutes, in an Australian opera house or in a number of other similar concert halls throughout the world.

These are everyday Americans with extraordinary talent who perform for the world.