Mormon Tabernacle Choir director resigns

Craig Jessop, music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday night. The decision by Jessop, who became the choir's director and conductor in 1999, stunned members of the choir. He said he intended to remain active in music, including teaching, and hoped to spend more time with his family.

"LDS officials declined to comment, beyond what Jessop said in his resignation letter. Jessop did not return calls."  He "arrived around 9 p.m. and read a short letter that said he was 'at a major crossroads of life.''... He then walked out, leaving the choir in stunned silence."

"He scheduled a short rehearsal for some members Saturday, but didn't show up, according to several who were there. Without warning, he also failed to attend Sunday morning's broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word," which is unusual."

"After Jessop's Tuesday night announcement, LDS officials named associate director Mack Wilberg as the choir's interim director. By this morning, they had removed Jessop's biography from the choir's Web site."

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