News Story

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Announcer to Christchurch Audience: 'Music is a Language of Peace, Love and Hope'

Since 1990, Dr. Lloyd Newell has been the voice of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's weekly inspirational broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."

This historic broadcast — the longest running continuous radio network broadcast in the world — is heard and seen each week on hundreds of television and radio stations by millions of people around the world.

Last night [19 May 2013] Christchurch residents were privileged to hear Dr. Newell speak live about his experience and the power of music. 

“Music has been called the timeless and universal language — a language of peace, of love, of hope,” he said. “No matter where we live, regardless of our age and stage of life, music can lift and inspire us, it can soften and console us, it can instruct and entertain us.”

Ellen Chan, 21, a pianist and director of a youth choir said that hearing Dr. Newell speak in person was inspiring.  “I loved hearing about how music can be a powerful influence in people’s lives. I feel the same way and it made me want to do more.”

While Dr. Newell spends time each week with one of the most famous choirs in the world, he also took time to visit with ten-year old Mei Riwai-Couch who said “he was really nice and liked the song that I sang for him.”

At the end of this week Dr. Newell will be travelling to Auckland where he will speak at 7pm on Sunday evening, 26 May, at the Pah Road, Mt Roskill meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The event is open to the public and admission is free.   

“Music and the Spoken Word” is broadcast in New Zealand on the Prime channel every Sunday Morning at 6am.

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