If this is the guy I saw on the news this morning. I was just assuming that
he is just retiring..it is possible though of other things. Not knowing how
everything works there for the tabernacle people..but I am sure that Jessop
aware of many recent problems involving the choir/orchestra..I will look this
up..thanks!!
It is in the trib this morning..section B..but it just says he is stepping
down and will still pursue teaching music. Hard to say other than it is
voluntary...
I was reading that Craig Jessop abruptly just quit as the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Does anyone know why?
The article I read says he wants to spend more time with family etc. But, I find it hard to believe that, and perhaps I'm just being cynical.
Is it possible he just discovered the truth about the Corporation? Does he have some health issues? Does anyone know the rest of the story ??
That would be awesome....CRAIG JESSOP if you see this....PLEASE let us know! We don't bite!
I went to the last years of the Music Training Workshops at BYU before they were cancelled (big bummer) and Craig Jessop was an instructor. He transformed the MoTab when he came on. They sound sooooo much better.
I hope he's wide awake and I think if he has done all of his homework, gotten rid of any cognitive dissonance, he'll be a great example for those to follow who are holding back.
I know the motab can be a peyton place! I've heard rumors from within.
Dutch:
He might just be retiring. I noticed in his bio that he is a retired Air Force officer, so he may be going fishing.
But the article did say he was going back to his original plan of teaching.
He has won the Choir an awful lot of awards though..
I used to teach. That isn't work - that's fun. Especially if he is going to do it as an adjunct. He can teach only when he wants to, and go fishing the rest of the time.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director Craig Jessop resigned Tuesday
night during a meeting with members of the choir, leaving the group
stunned and emotional, according to one source.
He made the announcement to choir members following a regular
rehearsal. Associate music director Mack Wilberg will serve as interim
choir director.
Jessop apparently read a letter to choir members announcing his
resignation. At first, one source said, the group wasn't sure who the
letter was from. Then it began to dawn on them.
A press release issued late Tuesday night by The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints quoted Jessop as saying, "I now find myself at a
major crossroads of life. With long and prayerful consideration I have
decided to resign as director of the choir.
For his sake, I hope he's found his way out of the matrix. Funny, I totally thought the same thing last night when they announced this on KSL news. It would be hard, though, coming from such a high profile position. If he really resigned over discovering the truth about the church, that's some serious integrity dude.
brokenshelf:
On another board there is speculation that his resignation is tied to the Danzig uproar, which was my first thought when I heard the news last night.
This was my first thought too. When I read about Danzig, I thought
I remembered him having to talk to the directors (all) of the choir.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director Craig Jessop resigned Tuesday
night during a meeting with members of the choir, leaving the group
stunned and emotional, according to one source.
He made the announcement to choir members following a regular
rehearsal. Associate music director Mack Wilberg will serve as interim
choir director.
Jessop apparently read a letter to choir members announcing his
resignation. At first, one source said, the group wasn't sure who the
letter was from. Then it began to dawn on them.
A press release issued late Tuesday night by The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints quoted Jessop as saying, "I now find myself at a
major crossroads of life. With long and prayerful consideration I have
decided to resign as director of the choir.
When I heard the "major crossroads of life" part on the news last night, I wondered if he was leaving the church too. Someone in that kind of position doesn't usually leave so abruptly. Retirements are generally planned for and celebrated, with a replacement already chosen, not an interim director.
I would think if he was simply retiring he'd give some sort of notice and leave time for a transition - especially so close to conference. There was definitely something going on here. The 'major crossroads' is a red flag too.
I have it on good authority that Jessop refused to kiss Monson's enormous Ass.
Is this true? I actually wondered if Monson had anything to do with it. I understand that Monson is, to put it lightly, not the easiest person to like or get along with.
Being a musician and knowing the MoTab Choir organization I feel confident this is not normal. My impression of Craig Jessop is very good. From everything I know of him he was nice to everyone. Professional conductors do not leave their posts abruptly under normal circumstances. They are not that easy to replace and the schedule is made months, even years in advance. There is a lot going on right now with the Temple Square Chorale, Conference and the Easter Concert. I don't think Craig Jessop would leave all that on Mack Wilberg out of the blue for no reason. I think there must be very difficult circumstances behind this. Either he has very pressing personal matters to attend to or I think he was forced out. I actually think it is the latter because if it were the other I think the choir staff at least would have quickly prepared some quick presentation of thanks and appreciation. This is not the first director to leave abruptly. I wish Craig Jessop all the best and cannot imagine who the church thinks they will find to replace him.
It leads me to think that IF Craig Jessop did resign due to issues, these feedback comments would have a tendency to keep him MUM about the whole thing.
Something has to be up with that. No one quits right before a general conference. And that article says Tommy visited the choir the week before Craig announced he was leaving. Something's rotten in the great and spacious building.
The news release at LDS.org gives a subtle hint that there may have been some annimosity on the part of the church. The release begins:
Craig Jessop, renowned music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, has resigned from his assignment after over a decade of outstanding service with the choir.
His assignment? No. He quit his job! This tells me that the church somehow felt that he betrayed them by bailing out on this assignment. Granted, this is very sublte, but it demonstrates a certain mindset by the church. They seem to view this as a calling/assignment directly from God rather than a job.
I'm sure that to some degree, Jessop viewed it the same way. But at this point, the simple reality of it was that he quit his job. There may be an issue of Jessop not giving proper notice and leaving them in a bind, but that is an employer/employee issue.
Andy:
But at this point, the simple reality of it was that he quit his job. There may be an issue of Jessop not giving proper notice and leaving them in a bind, but that is an employer/employee issue.
Undoubtedly he is a wonderful man SOOOO the $64M question is ... what happened to force him to quit so abruptly??
LDSInc seems to have gotten exactly as much notice of resignation as they earned in how they treated him.
The choir director is a full-time, paid position. Like the volunteer singers and soloists, the director must be a Mormon who follows church practices such as paying tithing and forgoing alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea. Choir members rehearse and perform about five hours in an average week - Thursday nights for two hours and Sunday mornings for more than three hours.
Also the comment about him staying in the field of music...implies to me that he's not staying in the field of the mormon church....but yeah, I realize that's an optimistic implication I'm reading into it.
I hope more light is shed on it. If he really is leaving the church, I can only imagine the whirlwind of emotions he's in right now. But I think time would heal and he'd come out with a statement of some stort....somewhere....I think he's an awesome amazing person. The postmo world would be honored to have him be a part of it along with the other awesome amazing people in it already
Here's an interesting comment, I think from page 5:
"Members of the Temple Square Orchestra have been advised that Jessop
resigned rather than bow to demands that he name names of members who
he thought may either be gay or harbor dissent towards church policies.
Being a professional and loyal to his musicians, Jessop chose to
resign. This is a sad day for the church and perhaps the beginning of
the Monson Inquisition Era. Bravo to Maestro Jessop for his moral
courage. We need more people like him. Shame on the Church for engaging
in good old fashioned witch hunting. "
Undoubtedly he is a wonderful man SOOOO the $64M question is ... what happened to force him to quit so abruptly??
I'm pretty sure that it's just that he found postmormon.org!
Truly, this is unusual, and I suspect that he is making a statement (by resigning). However, I'm guessing that there won't be a Jessop-authored Kiss 'N Tell book, but wouldn't it be interesting!
Undoubtedly he is a wonderful man SOOOO the $64M question is ... what happened to force him to quit so abruptly??
I'm pretty sure that it's just that he found postmormon.org!
Truly, this is unusual, and I suspect that he is making a statement (by resigning). However, I'm guessing that there won't be a Jessop-authored Kiss 'N Tell book, but wouldn't it be interesting!
It would be interesting mama!! There is nothing like watching the
present unfold to reveal the truth of the past. It is exciting to me!!
I hope that there will someday be a forthcoming book written by this
Here's an interesting comment, I think from page 5:
"Members of the Temple Square Orchestra have been advised that Jessop
resigned rather than bow to demands that he name names of members who
he thought may either be gay or harbor dissent towards church policies.
Being a professional and loyal to his musicians, Jessop chose to
resign. This is a sad day for the church and perhaps the beginning of
the Monson Inquisition Era. Bravo to Maestro Jessop for his moral
courage. We need more people like him. Shame on the Church for engaging
in good old fashioned witch hunting. "
If this is true, the guy is a bonafide hero. Isn't interesting to note the contrast between someone who actually "stands for something" and someone who just talked about it?
If this is true, the guy is a bonafide hero. Isn't interesting to note the contrast between someone who actually "stands for something" and someone who just talked about it?
YEP! Contrast noted. So, is it true? Hmmmmmmmm how can we find out!!!??? Anyone out there?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Hey how about the Danzig's? Does anyone know them and want to ask a question or two?
Also...another observation: the post-mormon theory also makes sense in that he resigned before conference....meaning he couldn't in good conscious direct at a clone-fest of blather.
OK...so I read through the Des News feedbacks and mine was removed....how NOT surprising! All I asked was if there was any connection between the resignation and the Danzig issue.
Actually P Danzig posted a comment full of nothing but praise for Jessop....not removed.
BUT...someone posted a hint that there's an opening in the quorum of the 12 apostles......what a bummer that would be. ohmigawd, please say it isn't so!
All I know is, if there is a heaven, Mr. Jessop has a reserved seat up there. He has used his talents to bring so much inspirational beauty into the world. I hope he's doing OK.
If he is now a post-mormon I for one (with extensive choral singing to my credit) would love to volunteer for the pomotab.
That's probably the only reason I'd actually attend another church. Just to sing in choirs.
Yeah..I miss the choir..singing with a group. With all the talent in postmo,
we could really have a good postmo-tab! Beautiful songs and a background
of WFS, peter_mary, Epic and everybodies pics.. Hey..all we need is
OUR conductor!! Hopefully , he is our man.
Well....if he's not a postmo, I want to apply for the position. I was a choir director (thanks to his training/inspiration...and yet nowhere in his league) and I loved that calling. I did it the last 2 years I was active but a closet doubter...because I didn't have to teach doctrines I didn't believe in.
And hey, my choir loved me directing them. It's the only place I could command some power and adoration. ward choir .....woo hoo. I'm going to go out on a limb here and be REAL honest in saying that it's the quirkiest thing about me....I'm not a great singer or actor but I can direct a mean choir and a mean play. And y'know, is Steven Spielberg an actor????
I hope I don't live to regret my self-absorbed comment. Please be nice! But this whole thing with Jessop and stuff has me reminiscing.....sigh.
but yeah
Thank you Dutch.
It would be interesting mama!! There is nothing like watching the
.....woo hoo. 
