In a historic, global event, guests and cast members at Disney parks around the world will unite in song on 10 April 2014 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “It’s a Small World.”
To help announce the celebration this morning, Disney Parks released a video with people around the world singing, dancing to and playing “It’s a Small World.” Filmed across six continents in more than 25 countries, the video features international “performers” – including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, bagpipers in Scotland, Bollywood movie actors in India, and a firefighter in New York City – to create one worldwide video.
“It is a delight to be part of today’s announcement,” said Ron Jarrett, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. “This iconic song and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir both cross generational and cultural boundaries to unite people through music.”
The Choir and It’s a Small World, the classic Disney Parks attraction, have a unique connection. The attraction opened as a tribute to peace and hope at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The Choir was also featured at the fair, performing several musical numbers, and subsequently recorded the album At the Fair.
The announcement video and others will be part of the launch of smallworld50.com, the global online hub for the attraction’s anniversary. Fans around the world are encouraged to participate online by recording on the Small World 50 website videos of themselves singing “It’s a Small World” and by creating virtual “It’s a Small World” dolls to share with their friends through social media. The dolls will benefit UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). UNICEF provides health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more to children around the world.
Composed of 360 volunteer voices, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir serves as a musical ambassador for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Orchestra at Temple Square is a 150-member, all-volunteer symphony orchestra organized in 1999 to perform and accompany the musical ensembles of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir organization. The Choir and Orchestra are heard by millions worldwide through radio, TV, satellite and Internet broadcasts, tours and recordings.
Mack Wilberg was appointed music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in March 2008. He had served as the associate music director since 1999. A former professor of choral music at Brigham Young University, he is one of the preeminent composers and arrangers of choral music in America. Ryan Murphy became associate music director in 2009. His background includes work at the New England Conservatory of Music, Tanglewood Summer Festival, and the Tuacahn Theatre and Sundance Institute in Utah.
