Orchestra at Temple Square

The Orchestra at Temple Square is a 110-member orchestra located in Salt Lake City, UT. The Orchestra was created in 1999 under the direction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church"; see also Mormon) Church President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of the creative initiative to continually strengthen and expand the capabilities of the LDS Church music organizations. The Choir has been accompanied by such acclaimed instrumental groups as the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Utah Symphony.
==History==
Formed in 1999, the Orchestra fulfilled LDS Church leaders' longtime dream of having a permanent orchestra both to enhance the quality of Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances and to involve instrumental musicians in Church music projects on the same volunteer basis as Tabernacle Choir members. While some initial recording contracts in the first years of the Orchestra's existence were paid, with the creation of the Tabernacle Choir's own recording label the 110-member Orchestra has evolved into a purely volunteer organization. Although many Orchestra members are professional musicians, in order to participate they are required to give their time and talents to the Orchestra at Temple Square without financial compensation. 
Like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square makes its home in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Because of ongoing structural renovations to the Tabernacle, (that were completed in April 2007) the Orchestra rehearsed and performed in the adjacent LDS Conference Center during that time, as did the Choir. 
The Orchestra was initially directed by former Tabernacle Choir associate director (and current Creative Director of Utah Chamber Artists) Barlow Bradford. Under his direction the group developed into a critically acclaimed symphony orchestra. Barlow Bradford unexpectedly resigned shortly after the 2002 Olympics. The Orchestra continued under the musical supervision of Tabernacle Choir director Craig Jessop until his abrupt resignation on March 4, 2008. Under his direction the Orchestra increased its role as accompanist to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Temple Square Chorale, but continued to perform and tour on its own under the baton of Igor Gruppman, concertmaster of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.
==Repertoire and performances==
The Orchestra performs masterworks from the standard symphony orchestra repertoire several times a year, both at home and on tour, under the direction of Ukrainian-born conductor and violin virtuoso Igor Gruppman.
The Orchestra also regularly appears in the Tabernacle Choir's weekly radio and TV broadcasts of Music and the Spoken Word, the Choir's acclaimed Christmas specials on PBS, and in the Choir's recording projects, including several on the Telarc label. More recent recordings on the Choir's own label have enjoyed tremendous success, appearing prominently on Billboard's classical and classical crossover charts. Additionally, the Orchestra accompanies the Temple Square Chorale in its semiannual concerts and has provided the music for various LDS Church stage productions such as the annual Christmas favorite Savior of the World.
==References==
==External links==
* The Official Site of the Orchestra at Temple Square
Category:American orchestras
Category:Musical groups established in 1999
Category:Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Category:Temple Square