The Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Red Rocks

A couple of weeks ago the Mormon Tabernacle Choir ended their tour with a final concert at Red Rocks here in Denver.  Tom & I debated whether to go or not and finally decided we should go and see his sister sing, since it is her final tour with the choir.  We bought a couple of extra tickets and invited a couple we know.  Unfortunately they couldn’t join us, so we invited my brother, Travis, and his wife, Jen.  It was a fun night.  We ate chinese and drove out to Morrison where we joined the incredibly long and slow moving line of cars trying to get into the parking areas.  Luckily Tom had insisted on leaving an hour and a half before the concert began, so we arrived before the concert began (unlike many others who wandered in 15-30 minutes late).  One benefit of being a little early is that we were in our seats (row 9, at the far left side of the row) when Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walked in and took his seat in about row 5 in the middle.  Pretty cool!  There were lots of people gathered around him (and during intermission the whole area around him was a sea of people taking pictures!) but we were close enough to get a good luck.  His appearance was a surprise and he definitely got the biggest round of applause during the recognition of dignitaries (which included the governors of Colorado and Wyoming, as well as some other politicians – can’t remember who).  Anyhow – the concert was awesome – a nice mix of classical, sacred, gospel, tradition, and broadway music.  Even more impressive is the idea that all those choir members are volunteers, donating their talent, time, and even money (they pay their own way on the tour).