Jay E. Welch
Encyclopedia
Jay Evard Welch was an American
musician who was a music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
, a longtime University of Utah
professor, and founder of the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus
, Jay Welch Chorale and the Salt Lake Repertory Orchestra.
Welch was born in Salt Lake City on November 6, 1925, to Jesse Evard and Pearl Snow Welch. He served in the Navy during World War II
and the Korean War
. He married Marcelle Beecher in Salt Lake City on March 21, 1951.
Welch graduated from UCLA with a major in mathematics and minor in music. He continued his music studies at the Paris Conservatory of Music, graduated with a master's degree in composition from Mills College
in Oakland, California
, and earned a Ph.D. in 1959 from the University of Utah
, where he taught for 39 years before retiring in 1993. Besides teaching music theory and other classes to music majors, Welch taught music appreciation to thousands of non-majors. In 2004, the University of Utah’s Emeritus Alumni Association awarded him the prestigious Merit of Honor Award.
In 1957, Welch was named assistant conductor to Richard Condie
, the music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
. Welch was appointed to be the first music director of the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus
in 1969. In 1974, succeeding Condie, Welch became the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s music director, a position he held for only six months, due to an unexplained illness.
He died on December 15, 2008, at the age of 83 in Salt Lake City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician who was a music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
, a longtime University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
professor, and founder of the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus
Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus
The Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus was an official musical organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1969 to 1999, composed of young musicians aged 18 to 33. In its 30 year history, MYSC was credited with many television specials, numerous recordings, concerts, and...
, Jay Welch Chorale and the Salt Lake Repertory Orchestra.
Welch was born in Salt Lake City on November 6, 1925, to Jesse Evard and Pearl Snow Welch. He served in the Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He married Marcelle Beecher in Salt Lake City on March 21, 1951.
Welch graduated from UCLA with a major in mathematics and minor in music. He continued his music studies at the Paris Conservatory of Music, graduated with a master's degree in composition from Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
in Oakland, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and earned a Ph.D. in 1959 from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, where he taught for 39 years before retiring in 1993. Besides teaching music theory and other classes to music majors, Welch taught music appreciation to thousands of non-majors. In 2004, the University of Utah’s Emeritus Alumni Association awarded him the prestigious Merit of Honor Award.
In 1957, Welch was named assistant conductor to Richard Condie
Richard Condie
Richard Condie, RCA is a Canadian animator, film maker and musician living and working in Winnipeg, Manitoba.-Education and career:...
, the music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
. Welch was appointed to be the first music director of the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus
Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus
The Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus was an official musical organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1969 to 1999, composed of young musicians aged 18 to 33. In its 30 year history, MYSC was credited with many television specials, numerous recordings, concerts, and...
in 1969. In 1974, succeeding Condie, Welch became the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s music director, a position he held for only six months, due to an unexplained illness.
He died on December 15, 2008, at the age of 83 in Salt Lake City.