Carolyn Thompson Lee Our mother created music wherever she went. She herself was a beautiful singer and a very talented all-round musician and pianist. Our house was always filled with music and singing --- many, many music lessons and rehearsals!
Carolyn Thompson Lee came from a very musical family with a long history of singing in the Tabernacle Choir. Her Welsh ancestors likely made up the first choirs to sing for General Conferences when the Pioneers first settled in the Salt Lake Valley. Those Welsh choral singers made up the basis of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir after the Tabernacle was built in 1867. (Records of choir members weren't officially kept until later.)
Her mother Lora Harmon Thompson sang in the Choir during the time of WWI. Just after WWII, Carolyn went to play for her brothers Sam and John to audition for the Choir. Even though she was pregnant, the brothers nudged her to sing, too. They were all invited to join the choir. Then, as soon as brother Bob got out of the army, he joined, as well. During the late 1950s-1960s, all four of them sang in the Tabernacle Choir together. My mother bragged about how her voice was the highest voice heard on their Gold Record recording of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in 1959.
Carolyn Thompson Lee came from a very musical family with a long history of singing in the Tabernacle Choir. Her Welsh ancestors likely made up the first choirs to sing for General Conferences when the Pioneers first settled in the Salt Lake Valley. Those Welsh choral singers made up the basis of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir after the Tabernacle was built in 1867. (Records of choir members weren't officially kept until later.)
Her mother Lora Harmon Thompson sang in the Choir during the time of WWI. Just after WWII, Carolyn went to play for her brothers Sam and John to audition for the Choir. Even though she was pregnant, the brothers nudged her to sing, too. They were all invited to join the choir. Then, as soon as brother Bob got out of the army, he joined, as well. During the late 1950s-1960s, all four of them sang in the Tabernacle Choir together. My mother bragged about how her voice was the highest voice heard on their Gold Record recording of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in 1959.
Benny, Betsy, Bobby, Barby, and baby Billy. (Bonnie came along later.)
Growing up with our mother meant that we were singing from practically the moment of birth. We learned to sing in parts early on. In fact, we got so accustomed to holding our own parts, that we fiercely demanded that nobody else got to sing "our notes." Mom eventually had to write in six-part harmony so that we could each have our own notes to sing.
But as grown-ups we never had the opportunity to sing together in choirs, aside from the occasional Family Shows we did. We lived so far apart from each other when we were raising our families. Nowadays, four of us siblings live in Utah County, but two brothers still live on the opposite coasts of America.
Last night was rather historic for us Lee Siblings when four of us plus Bob's wife Penny found ourselves singing together in the Historic Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Bonnie and I had sung there many times as part of the Tabernacle Choir, but we had never sung there with Barbara, Bob and Penny.
But as grown-ups we never had the opportunity to sing together in choirs, aside from the occasional Family Shows we did. We lived so far apart from each other when we were raising our families. Nowadays, four of us siblings live in Utah County, but two brothers still live on the opposite coasts of America.
Last night was rather historic for us Lee Siblings when four of us plus Bob's wife Penny found ourselves singing together in the Historic Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Bonnie and I had sung there many times as part of the Tabernacle Choir, but we had never sung there with Barbara, Bob and Penny.
Betsy Bailey, Penny Lee, Bob Lee, Bonnie Lee, Barbara Acheson
This year we all decided to sing in the Wasatch Master Chorale in Provo. We have been having a delightful time making music together in this community group. 2024-2025 is their 50th Anniversary season, so the Wasatch Chorale has been doing some big events. Our conductor is Allison Unsworth, wife of Andrew Unsworth, Tabernacle organist. So, it was only fitting that we perform the Durufle' "Requiem" with Andy playing the Tabernacle Organ. This particular Requiem is mostly an organ showpiece with ancillary parts for chorus. Pretty cool!
Such fun singing in the Tabernacle again and feeling our ancestors' presence with us in that historic place! (I hope the carved angel statues at the tops of the pipes were smiling down on us!)
Such fun singing in the Tabernacle again and feeling our ancestors' presence with us in that historic place! (I hope the carved angel statues at the tops of the pipes were smiling down on us!)
RSS Feed