Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
This coming Sunday, renowned organist John Longhurst will accompany the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for the final time during a weekly broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. After 30-years at the organ console, Dr. Longhurst is retiring.
Obviously, he will be greatly missed.
Dr. Longhurst became a Tabernacle organist in 1977. Since then, his name has become virtually synonymous with the world-famous Aeolian-Skinner organ that is so intrinsically connected with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. His mastery of the 11,623 pipe instrument is recognized worldwide and can be heard on a number of recordings. In addition to accompanying the choir, it is estimated he has given nearly 3,000 half-hour recitals on the great organ during his tenure as Tabernacle Organist.
Dr. Longhurst deserves special recognition for his exhaustive work in coordinating the planning and installation of the large Schoenstein organ in the Conference Center, across the street from Temple Square. That, too, is an instrument he mastered as he helped engineers adapt its sound to the unique, electronically amplified acoustics of the massive 22,000 seat hall.
As the broadcast originator of Music and the Spoken Word, KSL appreciates our long association with Dr. Longhurst. We thank him for his many years of making masterful music and wish him well as retirement beckons.
