J. Spencer Cornwall

Who was J. Spencer Cornwall?

Joseph Spencer Cornwall was a conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the mid-20th century.

Cornwall was born at Mill Creek, Utah Territory.

Cornwall was the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1935 to 1957. Under his leadership the choir made some of its first trips outside of the United States. Probably the most noted of these was when it performed at the dedication of the Swiss Temple.

Cornwall was also a writer. He wrote "The Story of Our Mormon Hymns", as well as a centennial history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, A Century of Singing published by Deseret Book in 1958.

Among his early music instructors was George Careless.

As choir director Cornwall tried to raise the level of quality in the choir.

Cornwall composed the music to John Jaques's hymn "Softly Beams the Sacred Dawning", which is hymn #56 in the 1985 LDS Church hymnal.