Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Big Bird conducting orchestra and choir in 2014.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a 360-member vocal ensemble from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, formed in 1847.

From December 11 to 14, 2014, the Sesame Street Muppets (namely Count von Count, Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, Rosita, Bert, Ernie, Big Bird and Cookie Monster) alongside fellow guest Santino Fontana, participated in the Choir's annual Christmas Concert series in Salt Lake City. The concert was released on DVD and on CD on October 16, 2015, and aired on December 21, 2015 on PBS.

Christmas Concert Countdown videos

In a series of online videos counting down to the events, the Count interacts with several key figures of the Choir. The series was filmed inside the comparatively small, historic Tabernacle building, while the concerts took place in the LDS Conference Center instead. All of these videos were included as bonus features on the DVD of the concert.

5 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Ryan Murphy

5 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Ryan Murphy
December 7, 2014

4 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Choir President

4 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Choir President Ronald Jarrett
December 8, 2014

3 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Tabernacle Organists

3 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Tabernacle Organists Andrew Unsworth, Clay Christiansen and Richard Elliott
December 9, 2014

2 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count

2 Days Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count; who counts all the pipes in the Tabernacle organ
December 10, 2014

1 Day Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Ryan Murphy

1 Day Until the Christmas Concert - Countdown with the Count and Ryan Murphy
December 11, 2014

Outtakes from the Count's Christmas Concert Countdown

Outtakes from the Count's Christmas Concert Countdown
December 18, 2014

References

Mormon Tabernacle Penguins Hallelujah

• In episode 211 of Muppets Tonight, Clifford tells Kermit that the previous sketch with Andie MacDowell as a tower bell in The Hunchback of Notre Dame was the dumbest thing they'd ever done. Kermit contests that that particular distinction goes to the time Mr. Poodlepants conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Penguins. They agree, and leave Rizzo in charge of what to air on the program next. He immediately tells Nigel to run the previously mentioned tape which features a performance of the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah.