Clay Christiansen ( ) is an American organist who previously played for the

Salt Lake Tabernacle organ The Salt Lake Tabernacle organ is a pipe organ located in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. Along with the nearby Conference Center organ, it is typically used to accompany the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and is also feat ...

and the

Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir, acting as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for ov ...

. He accompanied the Choir in Salt Lake City and when it was on tour. Christiansen gave organ recitals in the

Salt Lake Tabernacle The Salt Lake Tabernacle, also known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, in the U.S. state of Utah. The Tabernacle was built from 1863 to 1875 to house meetings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sa ...

and the

Conference Center A convention center (American English; or conference centre in British English) is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typica ...

. Christiansen had a fascination with music from an early age. He was born in the small city of

Emery, Utah Emery is a town in Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 288 at the 2010 census. History Prehistoric Emery sits at the base of the mountains that contain the North Horn Formation. Named after North Horn Mountain, near Castle Da ...

, in 1949. He would play on the piano for hours on end. When neighbor children would come to play he would rather stay in and practice the piano. He played his first piano solo, "

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" is a The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns, hymn of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has been sung at many General Conference (LDS Church), general conferences o ...

", in church at the age of six. He played by ear until the age of eight when he took his first piano lessons. He was the accompanist for his church Sunday School and Priesthood services and a substitute

ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

organist at the age of eleven. Christiansen has a bachelor's degree from

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-d ...

and masters and Ph.D. in Music Composition from the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

(1988). From 1972 to 1982 Christiansen was the organist for St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Salt Lake City. Christiansen was also organist at Congregation Kol Ami, a Jewish synagogue in Salt Lake City. From 1982 to 2018 he had been one of the Tabernacle Organists. Christiansen and his wife, Diane, are the parents of 13 children. Christiansen is also a composer. He wrote the music to the hymn "In Fasting We Approach Thee". He has written a broad variety of choral, piano and organ compositions and transcriptions. His works appear in the catalogs of MorningStar Music Publishers, Shawnee Press, Jackman Music Press and SDG Press.

References

* * 1949 births Tabernacle Choir organists American Latter Day Saint hymnwriters Brigham Young University alumni University of Utah alumni Living people American classical organists American male organists People from Emery County, Utah Synagogue organists Latter Day Saints from Utah 21st-century organists 21st-century American keyboardists Male classical organists {{LDS-stub