Craig Jessop
Craig D. Jessop (born 1949) is an American academic, musician and singer best known for his tenure as the music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Choir) from 1999 to 2008.
A native of Millville, Utah, Jessop has been a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was a student of Robert Shaw and received a B.A. from Utah State University (USU), M.A. from Brigham Young University (BYU), and D.M.A. from Stanford University.
He has been the director of the National High School Choir Festival since its founding in 2005. The event, held at New York's Carnegie Hall, auditions schools from around the country to inspire and enable young singers in learning great works of music and performing with renowned musicians from around the world. He has also spent seven years as a baritone with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers and performed in the choirs of Helmuth Rilling and John Rutter. Prior to his association with the Choir, Jessop had a distinguished career as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, where he was director of the Singing Sergeants (1979–1987), commander/conductor, Band of the United States Air Forces in Europe (1987–91), conductor for Ramstein Community Choir/Rheinpfalz Community Choir (1988–91) and commander/conductor of the Air Combat Command Heartland of American Band (1991–95).
He began his career in education as director of choral activities at Granite High School in Salt Lake City. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performing on December 3, 2005, in the Conference Center under Jessop's direction. Jessop was named Associate Director of the Choir in 1995 and became its director in 1999. Under Jessop's direction the Choir won many awards, including the Special Recognition Award from the International Radio and Television Society Foundation and a National Medal of Arts presented by George W. Bush. He served in that position until suddenly resigning on March 4, 2008. At an evening rehearsal he appeared long enough to read a statement, to the surprise and confusion of choir members and community members. Jessop explained he was "at a major crossroads of life" and would return to "the career that I originally began [in] my musical journey" and spend "more time together with our children and grandsons."
Jessop and his wife have four children and eleven grandchildren.
Known For | Acting |
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Most Rating | 0.031 |
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Place of Birth | Millville, Utah, USA |
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2008
Rejoice and Be Merry!
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The Mormon Tabernacle Choir presents Rejoice and Be Merry!, the next musical masterpiece in a series of highly acclaimed and commercially successful h...
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Rejoice and Be Merry!
2005
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves
10/1
Four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and veteran movie and television star Peter Graves join with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at T...
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Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves
2004
The Wonder of Christmas featuring Frederica von Stade & Bryn Terfel
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An extraordinary musical celebration with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and special guests, Frederica von Stade and Bryn...
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The Wonder of Christmas featuring Frederica von Stade & Bryn Terfel
2006
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square featuring Renee Fleming and Claire Bloom
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Internationally acclaimed American soprano Renee Fleming and British actress Claire Bloom join with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Templ...
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Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square featuring Renee Fleming and Claire Bloom
2002
The Joy of Christmas with Angela Lansbury
10/1
The Joy of Christmas combines the talent of the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square with one of the most enduring and...
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The Joy of Christmas with Angela Lansbury
2003
Silent Night, Holy Night with Walter Cronkite
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The story of Silent Night, Holy Night is retold by Walter Cronkite and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square to thousands of conc...
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Silent Night, Holy Night with Walter Cronkite
2021
20 Years of Christmas With The Tabernacle Choir
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Former Tabernacle Choir guest artist and Tony Award-winner, Brian Stokes Mitchell, is back to remember and relive twenty years of inspiring Christmas...
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20 Years of Christmas With The Tabernacle Choir
2007
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square featuring Sissel
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Sissel joins with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in a magnificent Christmas celebration featuring some of the season's mos...
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