Current LDS Business College student Sadie Durrant is set to join the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in January.
“I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember,” Durrant said. “Being in the Tabernacle Choir has always been on my radar.”
Durrant will join a select 360-member chorus of men and women, all volunteers. The Choir, previously known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, performs to audiences worldwide.
Auditions for the Choir take place approximately every other year. Durrant jumped at the opportunity when it presented itself to her.
“I’m from Star Valley, Wyoming,” Durrant said. “I ended up moving to Lehi, Utah, and coming to school at LDS Business College. Then I said to myself, ‘I can do this!’”
The process began near the end of July, with Durrant finally finding out that she was admitted to the Choir just before Thanksgiving.
“The first thing they have you do is make a CD of yourself singing,” Durrant said. “They have you do some vocal exercises and sing a hymn. I sang Nearer, My God, to Thee (two parts of it).
“Then, you send in your CD and wait two or three weeks until they send you a moving-forward letter. You then take a two-and-a-half hour music theory exam with around 70 others. I was told that only about half of everyone who takes the exam, passes it.
“You wait two or three weeks before getting another moving-forward letter. That’s followed by an in-person audition. You get to sight-read and sing a hymn in front of Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy. You finally find out if you’ve made the Choir two or three weeks after that. It’s quite the process.”
Durrant will be in the Choir for around 40 years, or until she turns 60. One interesting thing she learned through the process is that singing in the Choir is a calling in the Church.
She has been well prepared for her new role. Durrant teaches voice lessons and previously obtained a degree in vocal performance. Recently, she has showcased her talents at LDS Business College.
“I’m in the BC Voices right now, but I’ve also been in the BC Choir,” Durrant said. “I sang a solo once in a devotional here. I also sang opera in the Talent Show that we had. I’m really grateful that singing at the College has contributed in helping prepare myself to sing in the Tabernacle Choir.”