Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances figure among the most popular Salt Lake City events, and for good reason. This all-volunteer group of 360 singers is consistently hailed as being one of the world's best choirs. On a weekly basis, their famed Sunday morning performances are broadcast live over the radio, much as they have been since 1929. This makes the broadcast the longest-running radio broadcast in the world. The history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir doesn't start in 1929, however. The group of changing members was established way back in 1847, just one month after Mormon pioneers arrived in the Great Salt Lake valley.

While the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was founded in 1847, it wasn't until 1869 that it started to develop into the high-quality choir that it is today. This was the year that conductor George Careless took over. Careless saw to it that choir members became more disciplined, and by 1873, the larger and improved group started performing in the renowned Mormon Tabernacle. The beautiful Tabernacle is where the Sunday morning performances are held to this day, and rare is the occasion when the 3,500 seats aren't completely filled. The Sunday morning performances start at 9:30 and are 30 minutes long. Those who wish to be in attendance for the broadcast event must be in their seats by 9:15 a.m.

The members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir range in age from 25 to 60, and they get no compensation for their participation in the group. It is their faith and their love of singing that makes all the practice and traveling worth it. Over the years, the famous group of choristers has performed at world fairs, for presidents, and for a number of TV and radio broadcasts. They have also journeyed to other countries to perform, including Brazil, Japan, and New Zealand, to name a few. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas music performances figure among the most popular annual concerts. If you can't manage to get to Salt Lake City during the holiday season, Christmas CDs featuring the group can be purchased. One of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas music CDs is from 1989 and features the group singing holiday season favorites, such as Deck the Halls and O Come All Ye Faithful.

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The Mormon Tabernacle Choir puts on a variety of shows throughout the year, and while many of these shows are held at the Mormon Tabernacle on Salt Lake City's Temple Square, others are held in other parts of the state, country, and world. Tickets must be purchased if you wish to attend some of the events, and free Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances can also be enjoyed. The Sunday morning performances and Thursday evening practices figure among the free shows. Those who are interested in free Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances can also consider dropping by the Mormon Tabernacle for one of the 30-minute organ recitals, which are held Monday through Saturday at noon, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Whether you choose to attend a Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas music event or one of the more regular performances, you are likely to be impressed by the choir's talent. This group is world famous for a reason. It is worth noting that free Mormon Tabernacle Choir performances are held at Assembly Hall from time to time should you be interested in seeing a show during your Salt Lake City vacation. The 21,000-seat Conference Center is also used for occasions that require a larger venue, specifically during summer and Christmas season months to accommodate the larger crowds.