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

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

(Choir), often on 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 Schoenstein Organ at the Conference Center, Conference Center organ, it is typically used to accompany the Tabernacl ...

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

Salt Lake Tabernacle The Salt Lake Tabernacle, formerly 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-d ...

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 ...

Early life

Christiansen had a fascination with music from an early age. He was born in 1949 in the small city of

Emery, Utah Emery is a town in Emery County, Utah, Emery County, Utah, United States. The population was 288 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. History Prehistoric Emery sits at the base of the mountains that contain the North Horn Formation. N ...

. He would play the piano for hours on end. When neighbor children would come to play, he would rather stay in and practice the piano. As a member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...

(LDS Church), he played his first piano solo, " We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet", 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 ] A Sunday school, sometimes known as a Sabbath school, is an educational institution, usually Christianity, Christian in character and intended for children or neophytes. Sunday school classes usually precede a Sunday church service and are u ...

and priesthood (LDS Church), 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 received a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in organ performance from

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...

, and

master's A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...

and Ph.D. degrees in music composition from the

University of Utah The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...

Career

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 was one of the Tabernacle Organists.

Personal life

Christiansen and his wife, Diane, have 13 children and over 50 grandchildren. Christiansen is also a composer. He wrote the music to the LDS Church 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 People from Emery County, Utah Synagogue organists Latter Day Saints from Utah 21st-century American organists 21st-century American keyboardists American male classical organists {{LDS-stub