In February 2024, The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Sq. continued its “Hope” world tour with concert events and occasions within the Philippines. This second cease on the multiyear, multination tour is the primary for “Asia’s Pearl.”
This episode of the Church Information podcast explores this musical expedition with choir leaders and members, particular visitor performers and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — together with Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, choir President Michael O. Leavitt, choir musical director Mack Wilberg
Take heed to this episode of the Church Information podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Spotify, bookshelf PLUS, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.
Transcript:
Michael O. Leavitt: This can be a worldwide tour, and a major goal of ours is to hold a message of hope in Jesus Christ. And I don’t know many international locations world wide the place that may be a extra vital — or, might I add, extra welcomed — message than the Philippines. The story of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Philippines is a miracle. And I believe what we got here away from this expertise understanding is that the miracle is simply starting. And having the capability now for the choir to affix in that miracle and assist propel it into a brand new orbit so that individuals will look again and say, “That was a milestone on the history of a miracle in the Philippines.”
1:06
Sarah Jane Weaver: That is Sarah Jane Weaver, govt editor of the Church Information, welcoming you to the Church Information podcast. We’re taking you on a journey of connection as we focus on information and occasions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In February of 2024, The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Sq. continued their “Hope” world tour with concert events and occasions within the Philippines. That is the second cease on the multiyear, multination tour and the primary time the historic choir has visited “Asia’s pearl.” Over the nine-day keep, 323 choir members and 60-plus orchestra members held 4 concert events, met with political and civic leaders, visited with members of the Filipino group and did precisely what they got down to do: They unfold the hope made doable by the Savior of the world.
On this episode of the Church Information podcast, we discover this musical expedition with choir leaders and members, particular friends and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We start this episode with phrases from Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles talking on the ability of music.
2:27
Elder Neil L. Andersen: Effectively, what a tremendous, stunning expertise to be right here, and to be right here with the choir; however after all, greater than something, to be with these very humble but very non secular folks of the Philippines. I liked being with them. It’s one thing that they won’t solely be blessed by the choir, however the choir can be blessed by them. And that may carry out a music that may be very, very particular.
And the importance of getting the choir right here within the Philippines is nearly as a brand new chapter for the Church. It’s saying there are tons of of hundreds of members who need to see the choir, and there are tens of hundreds who will include the members to see the choir. And to move this tons of of individuals over right here for this expertise means the Church is coming of age. And what a blessing to see this new chapter rising.
One of many beauties of this nation is that nearly everybody has religion, and they don’t seem to be afraid to speak about it. Miracles are taking place. You don’t even must say it. Miracles are taking place as a result of the Lord’s hand is upon it. And amazingly, they’ve established a licensing settlement so we will use this by the subsequent months. And this can be used to share the gospel, to let the folks see the choir in all places within the Philippines. And so they love the choir’s music. It isn’t only a small section who love the choir, it’s a giant section. And music lets us know we’ve a lot extra in widespread than we’ve that divides us.
And although we notice the distinctive and particular and true nature of the restored gospel, we will embrace all good folks — and all of these, particularly, who consider in Jesus Christ — however all good folks. And actually, music speaks to all of us. The choir brings to the Church a readability of our religion in Jesus Christ. After they sing about Jesus Christ, nobody of their proper thoughts might say, “These people don’t believe in Jesus Christ.” They consider in Him completely and absolutely. That is essential. And so they can really feel the Spirit of the Lord, that comes from this stunning choir. Will probably be an incredible, nice blessing to our members right here and to all of the nation.
5:19
Sarah Jane Weaver: Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt serves as president of the Tabernacle Choir, and he emphasizes that the choir’s mission is to convey a message of hope in Christ.
Michael O. Leavitt: This can be a worldwide tour, and a major goal of ours is to hold a message of hope in Jesus Christ. And I don’t know many international locations world wide the place that may be a extra vital — or, might I add, extra welcomed — message than the Philippines. This can be a nation that’s 97% Christian, and so they’re keen to speak about it, and so they need to speak about it. And I consider we reached them talking a language that they understood; not simply within the music, however I believe those that deliberate this system took sufficient time to grasp the cultural nuances that might converse to them. And it was a message that they resonated deeply with.
Our mission is to hold a message of hope in Christ. But it surely’s additionally to lift the profile of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I consider we achieved that. We had exceptional interactions with leaders of their authorities, of their varied faiths, of their cities, their cities, their communities and their folks. We had a really huge dialog with basically the entire nation. And I believe we developed essential relationships going ahead. The leaders of the Church in Philippines met with the president. They have been honored by the Philippines Senate — I would add, the primary choir exterior of Asia ever for that to happen. So we’ve been embraced, and we’ve communicated and had a dialogue that can be ongoing.
It’s vital to say that this was not only a live performance in Manila. This efficiency and the performances we did have been performed in a manner as to achieve actually each island. We had our main efficiency streamed to Church buildings, to theaters. There have been greater than a dozen communities, giant communities, that put the live performance up on huge screens of their city sq. after which put search lights up so that individuals might see it for miles round and are available to see the Tabernacle Choir. This was countrywide. This was a really deep attain into the tradition and the inhabitants of the Philippines.
8:19
Effectively, it’s vital to the choir long run that we domesticate new audiences. And one which we need to give attention to are those that are youthful, who haven’t identified the Tabernacle Choir all through their life. We have to carry out for them in a manner that speaks their language too, and so they like listening to it from those that converse it the way in which they do. And there have been elements of the efficiency performed by younger folks talking a message of perception. And so they carried out it so properly. And once they got here on the stage, the world simply lit up with pleasure and with ardour.
I think my response was like that of virtually each choir member. We have been simply put again in our chairs with shock. We anticipated a pleasant musical quantity. What we obtained was this passionate program from a pair hundred Filipino youth, and so they have been excellent. They danced, they sang, they carried out. And most of all, they welcomed us with their coronary heart. Afterward, none of us needed to depart. All of us needed to simply have one huge embrace. We have been there to have fun the identical factor, and it was in regards to the widespread feeling we’ve in our hearts for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for what meaning for the longer term.
The story of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Philippines is a miracle. 1961, there was one native member of the Church in all of Philippines. At that time, Gordon B. Hinckley introduced 4 missionaries from the Hong Kong Mission to start serving in Philippines. I grew to become interested in these 4, and I used to be capable of finding two of the 4. And I had beautiful conversations with them. I needed them to know that we knew that we have been going to the Philippines and we have been going to construct on their work. They informed me that once they first started their work, they didn’t have literature that had been translated, they didn’t have the Guide of Mormon that had been translated, they simply began knocking on doorways. One in all them mentioned, “We weren’t even sure where we were.”
However they succeeded. The Spirit led them to individuals who have been ready. And inside a couple of months, there have been 10. After which there have been 20. After we got here 63 years later, we arrived to a spot the place there’s 850,000 Latter-day Saints, with stakes and missions and temples. Sixty-three years; that’s a really brief time frame. And I believe what we got here away from this expertise understanding is that the miracle is simply starting. And having the capability now for the choir to affix in that miracle and assist propel it into a brand new orbit in order that one other decade or 20 years from now, folks will look again and say, “That was a milestone on the history of a miracle in the Philippines.”
12:21
Sarah Jane Weaver: Tabernacle Choir music director Mack Wilberg shares the reception the choir obtained after touring throughout the globe.
Mack Wilberg: Effectively, it’s been an actual pleasure to be right here within the Philippines and presenting 4 concert events in three completely different venues and three considerably completely different packages. And I believe that I might converse for everybody in saying that we’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response and notably the heat we’ve felt from the nice Filipino folks. I’ve to say that the choir normally elicits very enthusiastic response from any audiences that we’ve carried out for, whether or not or not it’s in the US or Europe. We had very enthusiastic audiences in Mexico final 12 months. And whereas I used to be informed to anticipate a really heat reception, so I used to be considerably anticipating that, however you continue to should not fairly ready for the heat, actually, and the great thing about the folks on this stunning nation and tradition.
And we have been requested for some suggestions of what is likely to be some doable Filipino music that we might sing. And we at all times like to do this considerably as a shock, as an encore. And of the issues that have been urged, “Bahay Kubo” I believed was maybe one which is likely to be finest for us to study and to study rapidly. Fortunately, I discovered that at the least the pronunciation of the Tagalog wasn’t too sophisticated. And so, I set about doing an association of it and needed to incorporate the viewers in singing with the choir within the final part, and got here to seek out out that that is in all probability as well-known of a people music as any right here within the Philippines. And so the response has been actually pleasing to see the response once we began to sing the music.
And it’s uncommon that we’re reunited with our visitor artists. And so, when it was determined that we have been coming to the Philippines, it simply appeared like an ideal match to ask Lea Salonga to affix us. And we have been grateful that her schedule allowed not just for her to be right here, however her willingness to be right here. And it’s simply been a good time being along with her once more and reacquainting ourselves with one another and making music collectively. And the factor about Lea is she is such a beautiful, disciplined singer. She at all times delivers. It’s simply — you by no means have to fret about Lea, her vocalism and her pitch middle and all these types of issues. So it’s very simple working with Lea. And we’re so grateful that she was in a position to be a part of us.
We simply actually had only a few rehearsals. However she’s at all times so properly ready, and we have been properly ready. So it was actually a reasonably simple strategy of placing this all collectively. And I believe that that is one thing that the members of the choir and the orchestra, the choir group usually, we are going to keep in mind this tour and these concert events within the Philippines for a lot of, a few years.
16:11
Sarah Jane Weaver: After first performing with the choir throughout their 2022 Christmas live performance, Lea Salonga — Broadway singer and Disney legend — once more joined the Tabernacle Choir throughout the Philippines 2024 “Hope” tour.
16:24
Lea Salonga: And it’s so nice to have you ever within the Philippines.
It definitely was a really particular expertise, performing with the choir in December of 2022, to go to Salt Lake and to carry out at Temple Sq. and to get to expertise how fantastic even the parents behind the scenes of the choir, the music crew, you recognize, and everybody that handles every part. And everyone was not simply good however very variety to us whereas we have been over there. So I assume I knew that it was going to be one thing that I might not ever thoughts repeating; I simply didn’t assume the second invitation would come so quickly.
I hope that each member of the choir and orchestra which have come to the Philippines will expertise the heat of the folks, the hospitality, that everybody from the Philippines is understood for, and that the time right here, you recognize, can be a optimistic expertise. It’s, you recognize, my nation is understood for its musicians and for music and for the top quality of performers which have come overseas. So, hopefully that’s one thing that’s felt as properly by the choir, that the appreciation for music is at a really excessive degree.
Filipinos are very non secular; not essentially spiritual, per se, however positively have a really sturdy religion and powerful spirituality. So I believe that it isn’t simply one thing that the ears will recognize. I imply, we recognize music from the center, and all of us sing from the intestine. That, I believe, is a trademark of plenty of Filipino singers, the place it’s this otherworldly high quality. And I’m hoping that the choir feels that once they work with different Filipino vocalists. I imply, there’s Ysabelle Cuevas goes to be performing as properly, in addition to there are Filipino, I believe, members of the choir who’re right here. So there may be that.
And the factor about music is there’s simply one thing about music that, you recognize, the cerebral can’t at all times put into phrases. , like listening to a Beethoven symphony and even listening to, you recognize, secular pop music, there’s something within the spirit — even if you happen to don’t at all times acknowledge it — there’s something within the spirit that’s moved, one thing in your soul, whether or not the intent of the music is to, you recognize, rile you up and get you energetic a couple of specific trigger, or to assist calm you down, or to be, you recognize, an addition to prayer custom. There may be simply — it’s virtually like music is a beeline to the divine. And I believe each individual of religion acknowledges that, which is why music is such an enormous a part of many non secular ceremonies and traditions.
19:27
Sarah Jane Weaver: A brand new member of the Tabernacle Choir and a Filipino native, Leo Marcelo, spoke of his experiences within the Philippines with the choir.
Suzi Entrata-Abrera: Mr. Leo Marcelo, the place are you? The place are you?
19:45
Leo Marcelo: Yeah, with me being a brand new member of the choir and my first tour was the Philippines, that’s simply wonderful. Superb. It’s humorous as a result of they’ve been teasing us that we’re going to Southeast Asia, however they by no means gave the actual, like, they by no means finalized what the nation is. However we have been all hoping, the entire choir hoped, it’s the Philippines. And once they lastly formally introduced it, that we might have our concert events within the Philippines, like, oh wow, it was wonderful. It was a dream come true, for certain. And me being as a brand new member and the primary tour that I’m going to is the Philippines, that’s simply divine intervention throughout the board. It was superior.
After I was invited in, you recognize, to face up, as a result of I’m the one Filipino member of the choir, it was shocking. I imply, we’re a gaggle of individuals, no people there. So when that occurred, I used to be very, very shocked. However I believe it’s completely nice, as a result of it’s my nation. And naturally, we do have these two members that joined us, Sundae [Mae Indino] and Ronald [Baa], I imply, we’re so proud. We’re so proud to be within the Philippines, bringing this magnificent choir in our nation. It’s an honor.
Yeah, the music actually bridges gaps with regards of what race, nationality, faith, something; music is only a common language. And the Filipinos are very musical folks. I can inform that they felt the Spirit, you recognize, in union with everyone. And it was simply wonderful. Even after the encores, they began to sing once more. They sang the “Bahay Kubo” once more. We will really feel the love. And, like Mack talked about within the press convention, they’ve been to so many international locations earlier than; that is completely different. The heat is simply astronomical. It’s actually nice.
21:27
Sarah Jane Weaver: Eric Schetselaar, a choir member for 17 years, and Krista Paulson, a choir member for 4 years, additionally shared their experiences within the Philippines.
Eric Schetselaar: I liked it. I liked it. I might actually really feel the love of the folks. And that’s one of many issues that I at all times search for once we’re singing, is how we talk with the viewers. We would like them to really feel what we’re feeling. And I actually felt that tonight. Music is a global language, and so anyone can relate to the music that we sang. So anyone can really feel the Spirit, can really feel the spirit of what we’re singing, although they may not perceive the phrases that we’re singing. They nonetheless can really feel what we’re singing to them, simply by the music itself. It’s a global language.
22:18
Krista Paulson: Oh, it’s simply fantastic to be right here, and I really feel like my favourite factor about being right here is the folks. It’s such as you simply really feel their love, and I simply had a lot enjoyable singing tonight and attempting to attach with the viewers; and particularly once we are singing the music that was in Tagalog, and I used to be noticing that a number of the ladies have been getting out their hankies and wiping their eyes, and it simply made me really feel like we made them really feel what we have been feeling as we sang. And that’s what’s so particular, is that hopefully not solely can they consider what we’re singing, however that they’ll really feel that we all know, that we really feel, what we’re singing, so.
23:01
Sarah Jane Weaver: Amid cheers within the background, Philippine ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, additionally talked in regards to the choir.
Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez: Effectively, I believe as you would see with the Filipinos right here, they actually liked it. In order that, once more, touches the center of the Filipino that manner, as a result of as you mentioned, we’re a people who love music, and the music that the Tabernacle Choir gave out immediately was simply completely implausible. And the Tabernacle Choir is one strategy to categorical that type of a hope and positively ambassadors of goodwill for the Church and maybe even on your nation.
23:59
Sarah Jane Weaver: Tabernacle Choir President Mike Leavitt was sitting subsequent to the ambassador throughout the efficiency and skilled his pleasure firsthand. After the efficiency, he then answered one in every of our favourite questions: What have you learnt now?
24:20
Michael O. Leavitt: So, I used to be sitting subsequent to the ambassador from the Philippines to the US, and I had some others on the facet. And when it was over, he had informed me that he had been a Tabernacle Choir fan for a very long time. He heard a specific efficiency that caught his curiosity, and so he made the choice when he heard it introduced that he was going to return. This was not only a product of outreach; he needed to return. After which there was a woman sitting subsequent to me who stood up, and when the applause had lastly died down, she mentioned to me, “This exceeded any expectation that I could have had. It was just beyond my description.”
And I see this each week, when folks come from world wide, and so they hear the Tabernacle Choir. They battle for the phrases. After which, finally, they simply do that, and mainly they sign “I feel all filled up.” And it was on steroids final night time, 10,000 folks standing, singing. There have been moments within the efficiency, for instance, when the choir started a quantity the place they have been singing in varied languages, and so they have been shifting and singing and clapping their fingers in rhythm. And there was simply delight. And it was pleasant. After which there have been moments when Lea Salonga walked out — that is their native daughter — and when she spoke to them of their language, she simply melted their hearts. After which when the youth got here out, the identical factor.
After which, on the finish, the choir sang a music that isn’t simply native to all of them, however a music that all of them knew and liked and had sang as kids, and 10,000 folks sang it collectively of their language. That’s one of many issues I believe we’ve discovered, about how we have to spend the time needed to grasp their tradition sufficient that we will converse to them, because the scriptures say, “in [their] own language” (Doctrine and Covenants 90:11). That is the type of factor that doesn’t simply change them; it adjustments the choir. And we’re starting to totally recognize and perceive our mission.
We simply added the phrases “throughout the world” to our mission. We’ve at all times sung for the world, however we now have a mission to ship a message to the world, to be supportive of a world church. And we’re getting higher and higher at it.
27:48
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“Well bless their hearts.”
