Estimated duration: 3-4 minutes
Salt Lake City — Looking back on his career as general manager of the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square, Scott Barrick sometimes finds it hard to believe it happened.
“For 21 years I’ve been part of the magic, and I’m still pinching myself,” Barrick said on stage inside the Salt Lake Tabernacle. It’s the symbol of the whole group.”
But Barrick’s work and the business of spreading the choir’s music to the world was in the basement under the iconic organ pipes.
“During the pandemic we had a new logo in our office and I am actually very proud of this as we had the opportunity to create not one but two logos for our choir. ” he said.
Barrick was also responsible for founding the choir’s recording label with 112 products, 15 Billboard No. 1 releases and two Grammy nominations to date. In collaboration with PBS, “Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir” has been the highest rated PBS Christmas program every year since 2004.
“He wore a lot of hats. As a result, he was juggling a lot of things at the same time. You know, that takes some ability. I think words are multitasking.” But he did it in such a wonderful way,” said Mac Wilberg, the choir’s musical director.
Barrick ushered the choir into the digital age through a social media strategy that includes a YouTube channel that now has over 500 million video views.
He also coordinated venue deals, ticket sales and VIP receptions for 10 national and international tours and 10 regional tours of choirs and orchestras.
Choir biographer Heidi Swinton said Barrick’s marketing strategy made people get to know the choir in a different way.
“His influence, his mark, is everywhere,” Swinton said.
Barrick is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but knew the choir before joining the church at the age of 16.
“What I think I know now is that God’s hand is in the work of this choir and God wants children to feel His love…and why this choir exists That’s why,” Barrick said.
Barrick was often the first to arrive at the office, often by 7am, and the last to leave. Those who worked with him said he always put people first.
“He was just trying to do good. Whether it was in an individual’s life or someone had a problem, he would have been there first,” Swinton explained. It was an open policy for everyone to work together to make it happen. It was never about him.”
As a farewell gift, veteran baritone Barrick asked if he could sing with the choir at the October general conference.
“It was a great experience and I am very grateful,” he said.
And the choir is very grateful to him.
Choir president Michael Leavitt said, “He was able to provide the means by which the choir not only builds its reputation, but also provides music that brings a sense of peace and healing to the world.
After retirement, Barrick won’t have much to relax. He and his wife, Shauna, have been called on a mission by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be site leaders for the Church’s historic sites in Ohio. They leave in February.