Jay E. Welch

Jay Welch is an American musician best known for his tenure as the music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir beginning and ending in 1974. [ [http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/m/MORMONTABCHOIR.html Utah History Encyclopedia ] ]

Welch is a graduate of the Conservatoire National de Paris. He received a Masters Degree from Mills College in Oakland, California [ [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=70573219c786b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "New Conductors Appointed for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir" in "Ensign", September 1974, p. 94-95] ] and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1959. [ [http://www.alumni.utah.edu/continuum/spring04/news.htm Continuum - Spring 2004 ] ]

In addition to being music director of the Tabernacle Choir, he founded and conducted the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus and later the Jay Welch Chorale. [ [http://www.alumni.utah.edu/continuum/spring04/news.htm Continuum - Spring 2004 ] ] Welch also served as assistant director of the Tabernacle Choir for a few years prior to becoming its director. Welch began his service as an assistant director of the choir in 1957. In this capacity he was closely involved with its performance at the Munich Area Conference of the Church in 1973. [ [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=32e1d2b9ae76b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 Green, Doyle L. "The Tabenacle Choir: 106 Years of Missionary Singing" in "Ensign" November 1973, p. 84-88] ]

Welch taught as a professor at the University of Utah's School of Music until retiring in 1993. [ [http://www.alumni.utah.edu/continuum/spring04/news.htm Continuum - Spring 2004 ] ]

Welch and his wife Marcelle have six daughters.

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