For 97 years, or 5,052 weeks, listeners have heard the Tabernacle Choir sing on Temple Square’s weekly “Music & the Spoken Word.”
The first broadcast was on Monday, July 15, 1929, with single microphones for the choir and announcer mounted on the ceiling and connected by a long cable to KSL’s radio control equipment a city block away.
Ted Kimball, 19, the son of organist Edward P. Kimball, climbed a 15-foot step and remained there throughout the broadcast, announcing each song.
Currently, multiple microphones, video cameras, and electronic equipment are in place, along with camera operators and multiple technicians, for the “Music & the Spoken Word” program to be broadcast Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. The song can be heard on various television and radio stations, as well as online at tabernaclechoir.org and youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir. For more information about joining or listening to “Music and Spoken Word,” visit thetabernaclechoir.org/music-spoken-word.html.
Sunday, July 13, 2025, marks the 5,000th week of the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir’s weekly 30-minute “Music and Spoken Word” broadcast. The broadcast is heard or seen on radio, television or online by approximately 6 million people in 50 countries around the world.
Here are some recent stories about the Tabernacle Choir.
1. NFL coach Andy Reid narrates “Music and Spoken Word” to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary
NFL Kansas City Chiefs head football coach Andy Reid joined the Temple Square Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra for a “Music and Spoken Word” celebration of America’s 250th anniversary at the Temple Square Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Sunday, July 5.
Read more about Reid’s message and watch the broadcast here.
2. Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra perform benefit concert at Hollywood Bowl
The Temple Square Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra celebrated “Songs of Hope” at the “Songs of Hope” concert held at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, June 24th and Thursday, June 25th, honoring women, raising money to help women and children around the world, and testifying of the Savior through music. The choir first performed at this iconic venue in 1926.
Click here to learn more about concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.
3. Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s “Music and Spoken Word” celebrates joy through music and African culture.
On Sunday, April 19, “Music and Spoken Word” celebrated African culture and the joy that can be seen as people seek to follow God’s commandments to love God and others.
The show was broadcast live in over 20 African countries and featured videos and images of different countries, cities, and people during the music.
Learn more about the episode here.
4. Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo welcomes surprise guest artist to Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra concert in São Paulo, Brazil
Forty-five years ago, the Temple Square Tabernacle Choir sang at the Ginácio do Ibirapuera venue in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Tabernacle Choir returned to the same arena with the Orchestra at Temple Square on Friday, February 27th and Saturday, February 28th to celebrate “Songs of Hope” and bear witness to our Savior Jesus Christ through music. This time we were joined by a surprise guest artist and several other musicians.
Click here for more information about the concert.
5. Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra release new album “This New Day”
Temple Square Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s new album, “This New Day: Music of Reflection and Devotion,” debuted on Friday, May 8th.
This is the first time the choir and orchestra have recorded and released a non-Christmas album since 2019’s Let Us All Press On: Hymns of Praise and Inspiration seven years ago.
Click here for more information on the album and how to listen.
6. “America’s Soundtrack” Selection: The History and Legacy of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
This year, Temple Square’s Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra’s performance of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (arranged by Peter Wilhowski) is part of “America’s Soundtrack,” a collection of national music created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The soundtrack can be found on the America250 YouTube channel.
“Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which begins with the beat of marching drums and the call of trumpets, has been performed by the 360-voice Tabernacle Choir in concerts around the world for decades.
Learn more about the choir and orchestra history of this piece here.
7. Church News Podcast, Episode 272: Tabernacle Organist Richard Elliott Talks Sacred Music and Conversion
The Tabernacle Choir includes more than just singers. There’s an organist, there’s an orchestra in Temple Square, and bells ring in Temple Square.
Organist Richard Elliott has been the organist for the Tabernacle Choir in Temple Square for 35 years. In this episode of the Church News Podcast, the principal organist of the Temple Square Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra talks about the power of music and his conversion to Christ.
You can listen or watch the podcast here
