Acclaimed Broadway singer and actress Lea Salonga will be the featured guest artist on the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s tour to the Philippines. This is the the second stop on the Choir’s world tour of Hope and the first visit by the Choir to the Philippines.
Salonga is a multiple award-winning actor and singer renowned across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. She is acclaimed for her Tony Award–winning role in Miss Saigon. In addition to the Tony, she has won the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards in the field of musical theatre.
Many fans of all ages recognize Salonga as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin and Fa Mulan for Mulan and Mulan II. She served as a judge on the Philippines’ hit version of The Voice, including the ratings juggernaut The Voice Kids. An avid techie and gamer, Salonga divides her time between Manila, Philippines, with her family and the United States.
Under the direction of Mack Wilberg, music director of the Choir, and Ryan Murphy, associate music director, the Hope concerts will be held from Feb. 20 to 29 and feature Salonga and the Choir performing a repertoire that reflects the musicality of the country. Filipinos are a nation of singing people whose choral tradition started centuries ago and continues today. Internationally, the Philippines has one of the highest viewerships of Music & the Spoken Word.
Salonga first performed with the Tabernacle Choir in December 2022 during the Season of Light: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and Wilberg said he is looking forward to working with her again.
“It was a delight to have Lea Salonga share her extraordinary talents at our Christmas concert last year in Salt Lake City. It is an honor for the Choir to go to Lea’s home country to perform with her again and experience the kindness of the Filipino people,” he said.
Over the next four years, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra will travel twice a year to different parts of the world. Choir president Michael O. Leavitt said, “Our goal is to magnify the Choir’s impact throughout the world by helping people feel God’s love for His children. Our performances will be free. Many will be live-streamed so local congregations in the regions we visit can invite their friends and communities to participate.”
