"I think the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is as great as it is because it's become it's a labor of love. They love what they do"
About this Quote
Osgood’s compliment lands with that distinctly broadcast-journalist mix of warmth and calibration: he praises a world-class institution without mystifying it. The secret, he suggests, isn’t divine smoke or pure Utah exceptionalism; it’s the mundane engine that reliably produces excellence over time: people showing up because they want to, not because they have to.
The intent is generous but also quietly instructive. By calling the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a “labor of love,” Osgood frames greatness as the byproduct of commitment rather than genius. That phrasing does double work. It romanticizes the choir’s sound while pointing to the infrastructure beneath it: rehearsal hours, volunteer discipline, the social and spiritual glue of a community that treats performance as service. It’s an endorsement of a particular American myth - voluntary association - with a religious edge.
The subtext is a small rebuke to professionalized culture. In an era when we assume top-tier art must be driven by money, prestige, or ruthless competition, Osgood elevates the opposite: unpaid or underpaid devotion as a competitive advantage. He’s also smoothing the choir’s public identity for a broad audience. “They love what they do” sidesteps theological specifics and political baggage, translating a faith-rooted institution into an accessible human story about pride in craft.
Context matters: Osgood built a career on making large institutions feel intimate. Here, he turns a massive choral brand into a relatable lesson about why some traditions endure: not because they’re perfect, but because enough people care to keep them excellent.
The intent is generous but also quietly instructive. By calling the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a “labor of love,” Osgood frames greatness as the byproduct of commitment rather than genius. That phrasing does double work. It romanticizes the choir’s sound while pointing to the infrastructure beneath it: rehearsal hours, volunteer discipline, the social and spiritual glue of a community that treats performance as service. It’s an endorsement of a particular American myth - voluntary association - with a religious edge.
The subtext is a small rebuke to professionalized culture. In an era when we assume top-tier art must be driven by money, prestige, or ruthless competition, Osgood elevates the opposite: unpaid or underpaid devotion as a competitive advantage. He’s also smoothing the choir’s public identity for a broad audience. “They love what they do” sidesteps theological specifics and political baggage, translating a faith-rooted institution into an accessible human story about pride in craft.
Context matters: Osgood built a career on making large institutions feel intimate. Here, he turns a massive choral brand into a relatable lesson about why some traditions endure: not because they’re perfect, but because enough people care to keep them excellent.
Quote Details
| Topic | Music |
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