Dr. Richard L. Elliott Receives the 2025 Madeleine Award
The Cathedral of the Madeleine is pleased to announce Dr. Richard L. Elliott, Principal Organist of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, as the recipient of the 2025 Madeleine Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts and Humanities.
The Madeleine Award will be presented to Dr. Elliott at the annual Madeleine Award Dinner, which will be held on September 9, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the Madeleine Choir School.
The Madeleine Award will be presented to Dr. Elliott at the annual Madeleine Award Dinner, which will be held on September 9, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the Madeleine Choir School.
The Madeleine Award Dinner is a ticketed event that supports the Madeleine Festival and the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Due to the nature of the event, seating is limited. Reservations for the Madeleine Award Dinner are available through September 3, or until capacity is reached, by clicking the button above.
About the Awardee
After completing doctoral studies at the Eastman School of Music, Dr. Elliott accepted a position as assistant professor of Organ at Brigham Young University. In 1991, he was appointed as a Tabernacle Organist, serving in the daily and weekly recitals and broadcasts offered by the Tabernacle musicians, and participating in the extensive concert offerings annually performed on Temple Square. Since 2007, Dr. Elliott has served as Principal Organist of the Tabernacle Choir.
As accompanist for the Tabernacle Choir, he has performed in many of the world’s great concert halls and appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, including the NBC “Today Show,” the “CBS Morning Show,” “A Prairie Home Companion,” and the nationally syndicated “Pipedreams” radio program. In his work with the choir, Dr. Elliott has collaborated with many guest artists including Andrea Bocelli, the Canadian Brass, Kristin Chenoweth, Renée Fleming, Evelyn Glennie, the King’s Singers, the Sesame Street Muppets, Robert Shaw, James Taylor, and Bryn Terfel.
Additionally, Dr. Elliott has maintained an active performing career, performing solo concerts in major venues throughout the world. As a recording artist, he is featured on seven organ CDs and is a published composer and arranger of music for organ, choir, and orchestra.
Dr. Elliott has been a long time friend of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, serving on the Board of the Directors of the Eccles Organ Festival since its inception in 1994, often performing as a solo recitalist, and promoting several successful artistic collaborations between the Cathedral and Tabernacle musicians.
In gratitude for these many avenues of service to the arts, the Cathedral is delighted to recognize Dr. Richard L. Elliott with The Madeleine Award, acknowledging his many dedicated years of artistic and musical excellence.
As accompanist for the Tabernacle Choir, he has performed in many of the world’s great concert halls and appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, including the NBC “Today Show,” the “CBS Morning Show,” “A Prairie Home Companion,” and the nationally syndicated “Pipedreams” radio program. In his work with the choir, Dr. Elliott has collaborated with many guest artists including Andrea Bocelli, the Canadian Brass, Kristin Chenoweth, Renée Fleming, Evelyn Glennie, the King’s Singers, the Sesame Street Muppets, Robert Shaw, James Taylor, and Bryn Terfel.
Additionally, Dr. Elliott has maintained an active performing career, performing solo concerts in major venues throughout the world. As a recording artist, he is featured on seven organ CDs and is a published composer and arranger of music for organ, choir, and orchestra.
Dr. Elliott has been a long time friend of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, serving on the Board of the Directors of the Eccles Organ Festival since its inception in 1994, often performing as a solo recitalist, and promoting several successful artistic collaborations between the Cathedral and Tabernacle musicians.
In gratitude for these many avenues of service to the arts, the Cathedral is delighted to recognize Dr. Richard L. Elliott with The Madeleine Award, acknowledging his many dedicated years of artistic and musical excellence.
About the Madeleine Award
Since 1989, the Madeleine Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts and Humanities has been offered by the Cathedral of the Madeleine and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salt Lake City, to prominent members of the Arts and Humanities, recognizing their extraordinary service to our local community, expressed in performance, collaboration, and advocacy on behalf of the cultural life of our city, state, and beyond.
Past awardees have included Fred Adams, founder of the Utah Shakespeare Festival; Shirley Rirey and Joan Woodbury of Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company; Craig Jessop, Conductor of The Tabernacle Choir; Utah poet Leslie Norris; Mary Ann Lee of Children’s Dance Theatre; and many more.
Past awardees have included Fred Adams, founder of the Utah Shakespeare Festival; Shirley Rirey and Joan Woodbury of Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company; Craig Jessop, Conductor of The Tabernacle Choir; Utah poet Leslie Norris; Mary Ann Lee of Children’s Dance Theatre; and many more.
Previous Madeleine Award Recipients
Dr. Glenn Olsen (2016)
Mr. Mauricio J. Mixco (2015)
Sen. Haven J. Barlow (2014)
Dr. Craig Jessop (2013)
Mr. David Kranes (2012)
Mrs. Ruth Lubbers (2011)
Mr. Sam Wilson (2010)
Dr. James T. Svendsen (2009)
Mr. Gregory Glenn (2008)
Mr. Fred C. Adams (2007)
Ms. Anne Riordan (2006)
Mr. William Mulder (2005)
Ms. Shirley Ririe (2004)
Ms. Joan Woodbury (2004)
Mrs. Anne Cullimore Decker (2003)
Mr. Paul Pollei (2002)
Ms. Aden Ross (2001)
Mrs. Gladys Gladstone Rosenberg (2000)
Mr. Leslie Norris (1999)
Ms. Mary Ann Lee (1998)
Ms. Emma Lou Thayne (1997)
Mr. Ardean Watts (1996)
Mr. Delmont Oswald (1995)
Mr. Ariel Ballif (1994)
Mr. E. Frank Sanguinetti (1993)
Mrs. Ruth Draper (1992)
Mr. Geoffrey Chambers Hughes (1991)
Mr. Gene Pack (1990)
Mr. M. Ray Kingston (1989)
Dr. Glenn Olsen (2016)
Mr. Mauricio J. Mixco (2015)
Sen. Haven J. Barlow (2014)
Dr. Craig Jessop (2013)
Mr. David Kranes (2012)
Mrs. Ruth Lubbers (2011)
Mr. Sam Wilson (2010)
Dr. James T. Svendsen (2009)
Mr. Gregory Glenn (2008)
Mr. Fred C. Adams (2007)
Ms. Anne Riordan (2006)
Mr. William Mulder (2005)
Ms. Shirley Ririe (2004)
Ms. Joan Woodbury (2004)
Mrs. Anne Cullimore Decker (2003)
Mr. Paul Pollei (2002)
Ms. Aden Ross (2001)
Mrs. Gladys Gladstone Rosenberg (2000)
Mr. Leslie Norris (1999)
Ms. Mary Ann Lee (1998)
Ms. Emma Lou Thayne (1997)
Mr. Ardean Watts (1996)
Mr. Delmont Oswald (1995)
Mr. Ariel Ballif (1994)
Mr. E. Frank Sanguinetti (1993)
Mrs. Ruth Draper (1992)
Mr. Geoffrey Chambers Hughes (1991)
Mr. Gene Pack (1990)
Mr. M. Ray Kingston (1989)
