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(formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir), Wilberg is known for his lush choral arrangements and emotionally resonant style. Growing up in a small town two hours south of Salt Lake City, Wilberg grew up seeing the choir he would one day direct. He can vividly recall it being a "big deal" to go into the city with his grandmother at the age of 11 or 12 to see the Tabernacle Choir practice. "I can still remember what music they were rehearsing and what the conductor was saying," Wilberg said. "So it made a big impression, and it's kind of surreal to imagine, now that I've been doing this for so many years.: Wilberg was approached by retired Mercer faculty member David Keith several years ago to write a few pieces, but despite growing up in Utah, he already knew about Macon. Wilberg was once in a piano quartet and funnily enough, a member of the group was a friend of Neva Langley Fickling, renowned Macon-based pianist and a former Miss America, so they traveled here for a concert. He remembered how Macon was in "full bloom" early in the year compared to the harsh Utah wintery weather and found the city beautiful. That was many years back, and Wilberg spoke to MM right outside the performance hall now named in L ots of college students worry about their Valentine's Day plans. But for a group of Mercer Bears, their jitters were more focused on packing their suitcases, string instruments, and songbooks for a long weekend in New York City that culminated in performing at one of the world's most iconic venues. Students from the Robert McDuffi e Center for Strings and Mercer Singers teamed up with faculty and alumni to put on a major show at Carnegie Hall on February 17. For this group, the performance was more than just a concert – it was a celebration of talent, mentorship, and musical magic. Conducted by professor Stanley L. Roberts and guest conductor Paul Watkins of the Emerson String Quartet, the program featured standout works like Bartók's "Divertimento for Strings," Ola Gjeilo's "Sunrise Mass," and the world premiere of "From the Frontier" by renowned composer Mack Wilberg. Commissioned for Carnegie One of the exciting aspects of the Carnegie Hall performance was tapping Wilberg to write "From the Frontier." The acclaimed music director of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake City June/July 2025 | maconmagazine.com 77