Clay Christiansen (b.1949) is Tabernacle Choir Organist Emeritus at the historic Tabernacle on Temple Square where he performed full time on the famous 5-manual, 206-rank Æolian-Skinner organ from 1982 to 2018. Ten years prior he was Organist/Choirmaster at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, five of those years also at Congregation Kol Ami, both in Salt Lake City. Touring with the Choir he performed across North America, Europe and Israel and appears on much of their prolific discography.

Also in demand as a solo artist, Dr. Christiansen has performed in churches and concert halls across the United States, Canada, and England. Clay’s CD’s include Organ of the Mormon Tabernacle on the Klavier label, Now Let Us Rejoice: Organ Hymns for the Sabbath on the Tabernacle Choir label, St. Ambrose Catholic Church Premiere Recital, The Organ at the Mission Inn (Riverside, California) and The King of Instruments documentary DVD. Since retirement Clay has posted several hundred organ performances on his YouTube channel.

Composer of organ, choral and orchestral works, he holds a Ph.D in music composition from the University of Utah where he studied with Vladimir Ussachevsky, Ramiro Cortes and Bruce Reich. Clay’s many volumes of organ hymn settings, reharmonizations, transcriptions and choir settings are published by MorningStar Music Publishers and Jackman Music. Degrees in organ performance are from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University where he studied with Alexander Schreiner and J. J. Keeler. Post graduate studies were with Robert Noehren, long-time University of Michigan Organist and organ builder.

A 27-year member of the Musical Instruments Selection Committee, his ear for colorful organ registration profoundly influenced the design of organs found in meetinghouses of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide.

The Utah-based Scera Foundation for the Arts honored Clay as their 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

Clay and his wife Diane (recently deceased) are the parents of 13 children, 62 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Mike Carson hails from Lehi, Utah, where he graduated high school as a Sterling Scholar state finalist in music. At Brigham Young University he studied music composition, theory, and piano performance and was principal cellist in the BYU Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Glenn Williams.

After college, he enjoyed a 24-year career in the retail print music business in Utah County, followed by 18 years as an administrative assistant in private and government sectors.

Mike is the creator of Hymnbellishments™, embellished hymns for organ, designed to give hymn singing a lift! He offers them free of charge at CarsonHymns.com. Mike’s compositions and arrangements of sacred choral, organ, and piano music have been recognized by LDS Church Submissions and published by Kjos Music Co., Jackman Music, and SheetMusicPlus.com.

He is a former dean of the Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and former convener of the guild’s Bonneville District.

In 2022, Mike, along with Blaine Olson and James Welch, identified almost 80 churches and private residences in Utah County where full and hybrid pipe organs are located. They created a website, Utah Valley Pipe Organs, complete with many photos, descriptions of the instruments, and other essential details. The project may be viewed at:
https: //sites.google.com/view/uvpipeorgans.

Mike was the blessed husband of the late Cheryl Carson for 31 years.

Their children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and great grandchildren live in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, New York, and Virginia. Mike lives in Lindon, Utah, where he enjoys retirement, serving in church music callings, mentoring organists, gardening, and decorating his home.

Heidi J. Alley started piano lessons at the age of five under the tutelage of her mother, Margaret S. Brown. She added organ playing at age eight working with William Foxley. She studied piano with Dr. Paul Pollei and Robert Smith. She graduated from Brigham Young University in organ performance with Dr. Parley Belnap as her instructor. Other organ teachers include Dr. J.J. Keeler and Dr. Kenneth Udy.

Heidi is a well-known performer and accompanist at local venues in Salt Lake City including the Assembly Hall, Wasatch Presbyterian Church, and Libby Gardner Hall. She was a featured recitalist at the combined Region 8 and Region 9 Convention of the American Guild of Organists. She also was the local artist in 2007 for the Eccles Organ Concert Series held at the Cathedral of the Madeline. She has served on the local board of the Salt Lake City Chapter American Guild of Organists and was Dean for the term of 2012-2014. She has served for many years as a faculty member of the Church Music Workshop at Brigham Young University. Currently she is a guest recitalist at the Conference Center and Tabernacle on Temple Square. She is the organist for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City.

Heidi loves the outdoors and being active. She has completed two marathons, four Century bike rides, and several triathlons. She also enjoys water skiing, snow skiing, bicycling, and hiking. She lives in Bountiful with her husband Lynn and is the mother of four children. She also boasts one son-in-law, two daughter-in-laws, and nine fabulous grandchildren.

Dr. Seth Bott is a native of Castle Dale, Utah. In May of 2020, he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance at the University of Kansas, where he studied under James Higdon and Michael Bauer. He was appointed to a graduate teaching assistantship, where he taught private lessons and worked closely with the organ faculty to organize and execute organ department business. Also while a student at KU, Seth served as a sabbatical replacement professor at Kansas State University and taught the organ majors and secondary students there. Before attending the University of Kansas, he received the Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees in organ performance and pedagogy from Brigham Young University, where he studied with Don Cook and Douglas Bush.

Seth is an active recitalist and performs many recitals around the United States every year. Some recent recital venues have included: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, New York; Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, California; Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri; Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York; University of Nevada—Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, Florida; and in Hervormde Kerk, Noordbroek, Netherlands. Seth also served for many years as a Guest Tabernacle Organist on Temple Square and participated in the daily recital series performed on the famous Mormon Tabernacle Organ. He has had an abundance of church music roles in many denominations, and is currently serving as Director of Music, Choir Master and Organist at St. James Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Seth accompanies many choirs and orchestras in Utah and throughout the United States, and has a large—and ever growing—organ studio of around 30 students. In 2009, he took first place in region IX of the RCYO AGO organ competition for young organists, allowing him to perform at the National AGO convention in Washington, D.C. in 2010.

Landon Finch is a candidate for the BM in Organ Performance degree at Brigham Young University, where he is honing his musical skills under the guidance of Dr. Neil Harmon. His journey into the world of organ began under the direction of Lisa Bradshaw, sparking a passion that has become a defining element of his musical career. Committed to sharing his love for the organ, Landon actively engages in helping others embark on their own musical journeys. He envisions a lifetime of fascination, learning, and service in organ playing for those he inspires.

Landon’s experience as a church organist spans various settings, showcasing his adaptability and versatility in contributing to worship environments. Currently serving as the organist for his local congregation, he brings a blend of expertise and heartfelt dedication to his role. Beyond his church commitments, Landon has extended his musical abilities to community events, where his organ performances have enriched various gatherings. His frequent appearances in the BYU Marriott Center for campus devotionals highlight his proficiency in accompanying hymn singing, contributing to the spiritual ambiance of these events.

Passionate about the educational dimension of organ playing, Landon has performed and taught in a BYU traveling organ workshop and has also extended his teaching expertise to a diverse range of students. Reflecting his adeptness in connecting with individuals across varying levels of musical proficiency, Landon’s journey in organ performance, as he continues his studies at BYU, is characterized by an unwavering commitment to service and a genuine desire to nurture both new and experienced organists.

Alena Hall loves playing the organ!! Accompanying and collaborative work are part of that continuing passion, as is teaching. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Combined Piano and Organ Performance from BYU and then a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance, also from BYU. One of the personal highlights of her career was working as the organ scholar at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Recently, Alena was approved as a guest organist for the daily recitals held at Temple Square. Currently she has a small studio of piano and organ students and enjoys teaching at a variety of workshops.