![]() Hinckley was concerned about how the choir would fill such a large building for its Christmas concerts. When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened its 21,000-seat Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City in 2000, then-church President Gordon B. He joined the Tabernacle Choir as a baritone in 1996 after a career in benefits management and business consultancy. He studied at Ricks College, now known as Brigham Young University-Idaho, and served a church mission in New York City before transferring to BYU in Provo, where he met Wilberg and Jessop in the a cappella choir. The family moved to Orange County, Calif., when Ron and Ronda were about 10. After a traumatic early childhood, he and his twin sister, Ronda, were adopted at age 4 by Don and Alberta Gunnell of Logan. Gunnell supposes his knack for diplomacy comes, in part, from the challenges of his upbringing and lifelong desire to be a peacemaker. “Ron can get anything from anyone,” former music director Craig Jessop said. Because of Ron, our guest artists become like family.” He has the unique ability to form trusted relationships with our guest artists that last well beyond their performance in Salt Lake City. “Ron’s abilities extend well beyond being able to secure the best and brightest from the music world to perform with the choir and orchestra. “Every organization that works with high-caliber guest artists needs a Ron Gunnell, but not every organization is as lucky as we are to have someone so dedicated and able,” music director Mack Wilberg said. (The stage and screen legend not only accepted the invitation to appear on the 2001 Christmas concert, she became a close friend Gunnell sat with her at the funeral of her husband of 54 years.) Advised by Angela Lansbury’s agent to write her a letter, he instead sent roses and a note. That combination of resourcefulness, persistence and chutzpah typifies Gunnell’s approach. No tickets are required, but be in your seat by 9:15 - or just tune in to KSL (Channel 5). Foster and Bonneville will appear on the choir’s weekly broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word” Sunday, Dec.You’ll be seated in the Tabernacle to wait for available seats in the Conference Center, and you can stay there and watch a live broadcast if you don’t get in. ![]() If you didn’t get one of the free tickets, try the standby line, which starts at the north gate of Temple Square.North Temple, Salt Lake City Didn’t get tickets? ![]() Christmas with the choirThe Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will present their Christmas concerts featuring Broadway star Sutton Foster and British actor Hugh Bonneville.
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