Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s 14th Annual PBS Broadcast
Features Cross-Cultural, Latino-Themed Celebration with
Renowned Operatic Tenor Rolando Villazón
No. 1 watched program on PBS during holidays brings poignant, cross-cultural, Latino-themed celebration to millions of viewers in December
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 5, 2017 –Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir premieres on PBS Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings). This annual spectacular, the top viewed holiday program on PBS for 12 years, will feature world-renowned operatic tenor Rolando Villazón as guest artist and narrator. Co-presented by BYUtv and WGBH Boston, this year’s broadcast debuts its first Latino guest artist and weaves beloved Latin-American Christmas carols with traditional holiday favorites to deliver a poignant cross-cultural holiday celebration.
“My first major performance as an opera singer was on PBS with La Bohème at Lincoln Center, so it’s wonderful to be part of such a rich PBS tradition and broadcast,” said Mr. Villazón. “Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Conference Center at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, this concert includes beautifully arranged arias and treasured ‘villancicos’ that speak about connecting with others and giving shelter to the wanderer and the homeless. This concert is really about reflecting on what makes us human and unites us as part of the universal Christmas tradition. The music, the orchestra, the acting and the singular sound of the beautiful Choir are very inspiring. There’s nothing quite like this in the world in terms of the scale, grandeur and purpose.”
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir unites a 600-person-strong cast comprised of the 360-voice world renowned choir, 150-piece orchestra, bell-ringers, dancers and actors to deliver an unforgettable program of music, pageantry and storytelling. The program is filled with holiday carols in both English and Spanish, including: “Deck the Hall,” “Carol of the Drum,” “I Saw Three Ships,” “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” “Campana Sobre Campana” and others. Mr. Villazón also provides narration both for the Christmas Story as recorded in Luke 2 of the Bible, and a new retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen story, “The Little Match Girl,” complete with a live-action performance.
“Rolando is one of the most versatile artists alive today, who, with concurrent careers as opera singer, television host, author, stage director and cartoonist, assumes the dual role of singer and narrator with ease,” said Mack Wilberg, music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. “He brings a deep passion for his Mexican culture and characteristic wonder and enthusiasm, which are reflected throughout the program in a unique way. We knew for years that we wanted Rolando to join us for a performance in Salt Lake City, and are delighted by the chemistry, creativity and diversity that came about as a result.”
The 2017 broadcast of Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is co-presented by WGBH, the largest creator of PBS content for TV and the Web, and BYUtv, a nationwide satellite and cable network and an anchor broadcaster of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s weekly program, Music and the Spoken Word. BYUtv produced the concert, which was taped over three nights with a combined live audience of 63,000 people in Salt Lake City’s Conference Center, a state-of-the-art cultural and event center with what is believed to be the largest theater-style auditorium ever built.
Christmas concerts with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir have been a Temple Square tradition for decades but the current format dates back to 2000, when the completion of the new Conference Center provided a technologically advanced venue that enabled the Choir to expand the size and scope of the annual program both for those attending in-person and via broadcast.
Over the years, a diverse roster of notable guests has visited Salt Lake City to take part in the production, including Gladys Knight, Angela Lansbury, Natalie Cole, Renée Fleming, Deborah Voigt, Bryn Terfel, David Archuleta, Laura Osnes, Audra McDonald and The Muppets from Sesame Street, among others. Beloved narrators have included David McCullough, Tom Brokaw, John Rhys-Davies, Martin Jarvis, Jane Seymour, Walter Cronkite, Roma Downey and many more. The annual Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir program on PBS began in 2004 with performances by American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel and has continued each year since.
Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Rolando Villazón will air on PBS stations beginning Dec. 15, 2017. Check local listings for airtimes. It will also air on BYUtv beginning Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. MT. DVDs, CDs and a book of the concert are also available for purchase. For more information, visit: https://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/shop/christmas.html
Funding for Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on PBS is provided by Ronald C. and Kaye Gunnell; Timothy E. and Teresa J. Wright; Rex and Ruth Maughan; Greg and Monica Drennan; Richard and Shellie Silliman; Tom and Leslie Thomas; Gary and Cathy Crittenden; Jim and Sandy Cook; The Charles and Janet Stoddard Foundation; Andrea Golding; Björn and Cydnee Farmer; and The Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation.
For more information, please visit www.pbs.org/mormontabernaclechoir.
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About WGBH
Public media producer WGBH is America’s preeminent public broadcaster and the largest creator of PBS content for TV and the Web, including Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Frontline, Nova, American Experience, Arthur, Pinkalicious & Peterrific and more than a dozen other primetime, lifestyle and children’s series. WGBH’s television channels include WGBH 2, WGBX 44, and the digital channels World and Create. WGBH Radio serves listeners across New England with 89.7 WGBH, Boston’s Local NPR®; 99.5 WCRB Classical Radio Boston; and WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® Station. WGBH also is a major source of programs for public radio (among them, PRI’s The World®), a leader in educational multimedia (including PBS LearningMedia™, providing the nation’s educators with free, curriculum-based digital content), and a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired audiences. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards and Oscars. Find more information at wgbh.org.
About BYUtv
Owned by Brigham Young University and based in Provo, Utah, BYUtv is a groundbreaking high definition cable television network that has created a breadth of original “see the good in the world” programming that fills a void in entertainment the entire family can enjoy together, including sketch comedy, scripted, history, music and documentary offerings. The cable television network continues to build steady momentum, drawing new viewers to its shows from every state of the country. The non-commercial station is available in more than 65 million households in every state of the country on Dish Network, DirecTV and over 800 cable systems, and offers approximately 1,000 hours of original programming annually, including 500 hours of live HD collegiate sports. More info at www.byutv.org.
About the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a world-renowned, 360-member choir credited with over 4,600 episodes of its weekly live performance of Music and The Spoken Word, making it the longest continuing network broadcast in history. The Choir has traveled around the world performing in acclaimed concert halls, for the inaugurations of seven U.S. presidents beginning with its first for President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, at World's Fairs and expositions, in acclaimed concert halls, on television and radio broadcasts and now internet streams, and numerous other prestigious events and occasions.
The Orchestra at Temple Square is a 150-member, all-volunteer symphony orchestra organized in 1999 to perform and accompany the musical ensembles of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir organization. With their incomparable medley of voices and instruments and their shared faith in God they are a significant, recognizable presence in the world of music, giving service through song. More info at www.mormontabernaclechoir.org.
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Textiles firm and charity team up to help
the homeless
An industrial dry cleaning company is reducing its carbon footprint and a homeless charity has seen its clothing bank initiative go from strength to strength after joining forces with the help of a local businessman.
IT specialist Dave Barrett is managing director of Rugeley-based DBLogic (DBL), which provides SCI Textiles, also based in Rugeley, with a bespoke IT solution. In his spare time he volunteers with House of Bread Stafford, an independent charity set up in 2010 to support people who are homeless.
Dave realised that if the two organisations were to work together House of Bread would benefit from a sustainable supply of quality clothing while SCI Textiles would be able to reduce the number of items it sends to landfill so he sounded out both parties and put them in touch with each other.
House of Bread director Will Morris said: “People who use our services often need a change of clothes or bedlinen but, for whatever reason, find it challenging to access mainstream shopping and that’s why we set up our clothing bank.
“By volunteering with us Dave is already making a difference, but it’s thanks to him that we’ve been able to link up with SCI Textiles and with their fantastic support our clothing bank has turned into a tremendously successful initiative.”
Following an insurance payout to the customer, SCI Textiles typically sends garments, bedlinen and soft furnishings damaged by fire or flood and considered to be beyond economic repair to landfill. Thanks to the tie up with House of Bread, finding an alternative means of garment disposal has enabled SCI to significantly improve its environmental credentials.
Around 95% of the clothes and bedding donated by SCI Textiles is put to good use by House of Bread. Volunteers sort the items and pass on whatever the organisation cannot use to other charities or send it to rag agencies, bringing in useful extra income. House of Bread recently replaced bedding at the Eagle House hostel in Stafford and the Macari Centre in Stoke-on-Trent and has also donated items to the Cats Protection and a home for retired greyhounds for use as animal bedding.
Chris Dale, director of Rugeley-based SCI Textiles, commented: “When Dave mentioned his charity work I agreed that it made perfect sense for us to support House of Bread’s clothing bank and I’m delighted that other worthy causes stand to benefit from our arrangement.”
In a further move to give something back to the community, SCI Textiles has nominated House of Bread as its chosen charity for 2017-2018. It is planning a series of staff challenges to raise funds towards the costs associated with the provision of House of Bread’s core services. The charity also hopes to set up a new telephone support line and recruit additional caseworkers.
Caption: SCI Textiles is sending fewer garments to landfill after teaming up with House of Bread Stafford to support the charity’s clothing bank.
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Editors’ Notes
About DBLogic
DBLogic (DBL) is an innovative software developer that creates bespoke solutions to meet exact requirements, helping businesses achieve efficiency savings and derive a competitive edge. As well as delivering a complete end-to-end service, with the option for technical and functional support, DBL offers a range of pricing options to suit all budgets. The company’s aim is to help businesses make better decisions using bespoke software systems that are designed to be reliable and incorporate the flexibility to satisfy future needs as businesses grow.
About House of Bread
House of Bread helps people who are homeless by choice or because of a crisis. Users of its services also include sofa surfers, those who are socially isolated and individuals with mental health problems. Surplus food sourced locally feeds around 120 people each week, while the charity also provides clothing, toiletries and basic household items at the point of need along with a range of advocacy services. In September 2016, House of Bread opened its first drop-in café.
About SCI Textiles
SCI Textiles is a division of SCI Environmental Group and specialises in textile and garment claims management, validation, cleaning and salvage. Operating a state of the art cleaning plant in Staffordshire, the company provides a UK-wide solution to all contaminated, dirty and damaged textiles and garments. It is the preferred contractor to some of the country’s leading disaster restoration companies, loss adjusters and insurets.
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Berkeley, CA, December 14, 2017 — BeBop Sensors, Inc. www.bebopsensors.com, the leader in smart fabric sensor technology, announced today that they will be exhibiting at CES 2018, Booth #52868 at the Sands, Eureka Park. BeBop Sensors will introduce at CES the Forte Wireless Data Glove, the first fully featured affordable data glove to incorporate haptics, and super accurate rapid sensing for gaming and AR/VR environments for a more realistic VR experience.
Also Showing Foot Mat & Trackpad for Medical & Consumer Electronics Applications
The Forte Data Glove is the first hand tracking system to accurately and rapidly track fingers and fingertips with the best haptics. Before the Forte Wireless Data Glove, there was nothing practical that could accurately sense finger movements and quickly send tactile feedback to the fingertips. BeBop will also demo other new products at CES, including a foot mat and a trackpad designed for medical and consumer electronics applications. CES 2018 will be held January 9-12, 2018 in Las Vegas.
BEBOP SENSORS AT CES 2018:
BOOTH #52868 SANDS, Eureka Park, Hall G, Level 1
NEWS: Forte Virtual Reality Data Glove for VR/AR Environments & Gaming
BOOTH MAP: https://ces18.mapyourshow.com/7_0/floorplan/?hallID=M&selectedBooth=booth~52868
WEBSITE: http://www.bebopsensors.com
RELEASE: http://www.thomas-pr.com/bebop/bebopsensorsfortedatagloverelease.html
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/UBakV63xi64
CONTACT TO SCHEDULE CES MEETINGS:
Karen Thomas/Eva Yutani, Thomas PR (631) 549-7575 Emails: kthomas@thomaspr.com eyutani@thomaspr.com
Forte Data Glove Features:
• First affordable high performance, ultra-comfortable wireless data glove.
• Sensor speeds at 500Hz.
• Data rates at 150 frames per second, eliminating lag for near instantaneous response times, perfect for the most demanding gaming applications.
• 10 smart fabric bend sensors are located above each knuckle with bend accuracy and repeatability at +/- 1.5 degrees.
• 9 degree IMU (Inertial Measurement Units) provides extremely low drift and reliable pre-blended accelerometer and gyro sensor data.
• 6 actuators are located on 4 fingertips, the thumb, and palm.
• Up to 64 unique haptic sound files can be resident on the glove with new files rapidly uploaded over Bluetooth or Micro USB.
• Micro USB connector charges the internal lithium battery in 2 hours for a 15 hours battery life.
For more information on the Forte Wireless Data Glove, BeBop Sensors’ technology, and BeBop Sensors’ funding, contact BeBop Sensors at contact@bebopsensors.com, website: http://www.bebopsensors.com.
About BeBop Sensors
BeBop uses smart fabrics to create elegant sensor solutions for OEMs. Where things or people interact, BeBop Sensors comprehends force, location, size, weight, bend, twist and presence across any size, resolution and geometry. BeBop technology is robust and proven with over two million sensors in daily use. Based in Berkeley, California, BeBop Sensors makes things knowable for product designers and visionaries. For more information and demonstrations, see the BeBop Sensors website www.bebopsensors.com.
Photos BeBop Sensors Forte Data Glove:
On Hand: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/bebopsensorsfortegloveonhand.html
Glove: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/bebopsensorsforteglove.html
Back Hand: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/bebopsensorsforteglovebackhand.html
Back: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/bebopsensorsfortegloveback.html
BeBop Sensors Logo: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/beboplogo.html
Video: https://youtu.be/UBakV63xi64
