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Clay Christiansen

Clay Christiansen is an American organist who previously played for the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He accompanied the Choir in Salt Lake City and when it was on tour. Christiansen gave organ recitals in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the Conference Center. Christiansen had a fascination with music from an early age. He was born in the small city of Emery, Utah, in 1949. He would play on the piano for hours on end. When neighbor children would come to play he would rather stay in and practice the piano. He played his first piano solo, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet", in church at the age of six. He played by ear until the age of eight when he took his first piano lessons. He was the accompanist for his church Sunday School and Priesthood services and a substitute ward organist at the age of eleven. Christiansen has a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and masters and Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of Utah (1988). From 1972 to 1982 Christiansen was the organist for St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Salt Lake City. Christiansen was also organist at Congregation Kol Ami, a Jewish synagogue in Salt Lake City. From 1982 to 2018 he had been one of the Tabernacle Organists. Christiansen and his wife, Diane, are the parents of 13 children. Christiansen is also a composer. He wrote the music to the hymn "In Fasting We Approach Thee". He has written a broad variety of choral, piano and organ compositions and transcriptions. His works appear in the catalogs of MorningStar Music Publishers, Shawnee Press, Jackman Music... Press and SDG Press. more


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Born:
In Emery, Utah, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
17
First Appeared:
In the movie The Joy of Christmas with Angela Lansbury 2002-09-04
Latest Project:
Movie 20 Years of Christmas With The Tabernacle Choir 2021-11-26
Known For
Poster of A Merry Little Christmas with Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville
Poster of O Come, Little Children
Poster of Glad Christmas Tidings Featuring David Archuleta
Filmography
Movie 20 Years of Christmas With The Tabernacle Choir Organist (Archive Footage) 2021-11-26
Movie A Merry Little Christmas with Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville Organist 2018-10-12
Movie O Come, Little Children Organist 2017-10-17
Movie Hallelujah! Organist 2016-10-07
Movie Let The Season In Organist 2014-10-14
Movie Home for the Holidays: Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square Organist 2013-10-01
Movie Once Upon A Christmas Featuring Jane Seymour and Nathan Gunn Organist 2012-09-04
Movie Glad Christmas Tidings Featuring David Archuleta Organist 2011-09-06
Movie The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Featuring Natalie Cole Organist 2010-09-07
Movie Ring Christmas Bells Organist 2009-09-01
Movie Rejoice and Be Merry! Organist 2008-09-30
Movie Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square featuring Sissel Organist 2007-09-24
Movie Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square featuring Renee Fleming and Claire Bloom Organist 2006-10-12
Movie Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Featuring Audra McDonald and Peter Graves Organist 2005-09-15
Movie The Wonder of Christmas featuring Frederica von Stade & Bryn Terfel Organist 2004-09-14
Movie Silent Night, Holy Night with Walter Cronkite Organist 2003-10-07
Movie The Joy of Christmas with Angela Lansbury Organist 2002-09-04