One hundred years ago, The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square had its first performance at the Hollywood Bowl and they will perform again at the end of this month to raise money for charity in the “Songs of Benefit Concert.”
Members of the community are invited to attend a free, casual dress watch party on June 26 at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 837 E. Morton Ave., Porterville
“This is a great opportunity for people who love music and who love the choir and for people who are not members of our church to come and watch the choir in person,” said Theb Manivanh, who serves as the president of the Porterville Stake. “Especially for those who can’t travel to the Hollywood Bowl they have the opportunity to come and watch it locally. There will be church songs as well as patriotic songs at the concert.”
A Church Newsroom press release states the guest artists for the concert will be Donny Osmond, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus and the Bonner Family. One hundred percent of the ticket sale revenues from the concert will be donated to trusted charities including The Hunger Project. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will match the revenue from the concert ticket sales.
In addition to the watch party, community members are invited to the church at 5:30 p.m. to participate in a JustServe Project, which will consist of assembling hygiene kits to be given to the local unhoused community. The kits will contain soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, hand sanitizer, washcloths, disposable razors, first aid supplies and a comb. If community members would like to donate, they can take items to Value Village Thrift Store, 187 W. Olive Ave., or bring the items that evening. Ice cream will be served at 6 p.m.
Elizabeth Keele, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said music has a profound power to inspire people to come together in celebration and unity.
“I am so grateful for this community and its love and support of music,” Keele said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to gather together!”
A Church Newsroom press release states, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square is a world-renowned, 360-member, all-volunteer choir known for its weekly broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word, which has aired more than 5,000 episodes. Now in its 97th year, the program is the longest-running continuous network broadcast in history.
The Orchestra at Temple Square is a 200-member, all-volunteer symphony orchestra organized in 1999 to accompany The Tabernacle Choir and its affiliated ensembles. Together, the Choir and Orchestra share their music and faith with audiences worldwide.
“This concert represents a meaningful intersection of music and purpose,” said Michael O. Leavitt, Tabernacle Choir President. “As we return to the Hollywood Bowl, we do so not only to celebrate a historic moment, but to invite others to participate in efforts that uplift and strengthen families and communities.”