Press Release
Dr. Craig Jessop is coming this weekend as a guest conductor for a combined choir of USU Eastern and community singers. The group will be accompanied by Elise Tuttle, select community instrumentalists and USU Logan music faculty. The concert is free to the public and begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26 in the newly remodeled Geary Events Center. Seating is limited, so you will need to arrive early to get a seat.
Dr. Jessop is the Dean of The Caine College of the Arts for all USU campuses, and will soon be stepping down as dean at the end of this school year. He has already done much to support and strengthen the arts at USU Eastern, but wants his outreach to extend to our community at large. His visit to Price will include a community lecture and two days of workshops and rehearsals, culminating in the free performance. Dean Jessop will give a lecture for the university and community called “The Power of Music” on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Geary Events Center.
Many know Dr. Craig Jessop for his many years as director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (now called the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square). However, his distinguished resume also includes solo work, having won auditions at the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Operas. His decades of experience directing some of the most elite choirs and bands across the United States and Germany make him famous and have resulted in the most coveted music awards. His work as a much sought after guest conductor have taken him to the most prestigious concert halls around the world.
On Jan. 26, Dr. Jessop can add the Geary Events Center to his long list of prestigious venues. And thanks to generous donors, the Geary Theater now has a Steinway Concert Grand Piano Model D to make this and all future music events scintillating.
As a student of music himself, Craig Jessop has had the opportunity to sing under the most legendary choral directors Helmuth Rilling, John Rutter and Robert Shaw. Those experiences, along with three music degrees from USU, BYU and Stanford, have given him a wealth of experience to draw from and help shape his own career as conductor. And soon, he will be providing our community and USU Eastern Choirs with a similar opportunity to learn from one of the best.
The performance this Saturday will include two combined choir selections by John Rutter, “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” They will also sing a spiritual, “Let Me Fly,” arranged by Robert DeCormier, and two Mack Wilberg arrangements of “Cindy” and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The concert will also feature musical selections by the Logan Canyon Winds Ensemble and a solo performance on the new Steinway concert grand piano.