The Tabernacle Choir Performs Its First Concert in Peru 

The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performed for the first time in Peru on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center. More than 400 interfaith leaders, government officials and other dignitaries attended. 

This visit is the fourth stop on the Choir’s “Songs of Hope” world tour. Previous concerts were in Mexico, the Philippines and the Southeastern United States.

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The visit to Peru is part of the celebration of 100 years of the Church in South America. The celebration will continue in Argentina (August 2025) and Brazil (February 2026). 

“I know that this is a blessing from the Lord that He’s bringing [the Choir] to our country to get to see them and listen to them in person,” said Brigitte Contreras, a Peruvian Latter-day Saint who was with her family at the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima on Tuesday to greet the Choir. 

“We just felt this love immediately from them,” said Choir member Missy Omer. “It is amazing to feel the love from people all the way here in Peru. It was wonderful.” 

“It was a beautiful experience,” Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of Wednesday’s concert. “I saw how much [the Choir tries] to connect with the local culture, bringing local music and local artists to be part of the concert. It was a sweet experience.” 

Choir President Michael O. Leavitt said that this is not only the Choir’s first stop in Peru but also the first time it has performed in a large arena (which it will do on Saturday) and streamed to four countries simultaneously. These are important ways for the Choir to fulfill its mission to testify of Jesus Christ through music. 

“Our primary purpose is to testify of Jesus Christ,” President Leavitt said. “There’s no better way to do that than through sacred music.” 

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Recognizing the Choir 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Choir Presidency, on behalf of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra, accepted an award at the Legislative Palace in Lima. 

The Tabernacle Choir was given a medal of honor for its contribution to sacred music and culture, for its dedication and excellence in the interpretation of religious hymns and for its representation as cultural ambassadors of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world. 

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“In the big picture, the Church has not been [in Peru] that long,” President Leavitt said. “But there are 700,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peru, and [this award is] an acknowledgment of the impact the Church is having on the lives of people in Peru.” 

Elder Soares said such recognition is an example of how the Choir opens doors for the Church. 

“[We are engaging with] all people who have never had the opportunity to know who we are or what we believe, as well as having contact with the top leaders of the Church,” the Apostle said. "The Choir gives us the opportunity to connect with people, engage with them more deeply, and develop more meaningful relationships."

Former U.S. Senator Mitt Romney and Elders Jorge T. Becerra, Rafael E. Pino and Juan Pablo Villar of the South America Northwest Area Presidency were also in attendance. 

“The Choir coming here, and then a number of us being able to connect with government leaders, [helps those leaders] get some perspective on what the Church is here, what we’re doing here, what kind of impact we’re having on the lives of people here. And that’s a very positive thing,” said Senator Romney. “We’re building temples. We need government support to do so. We have almost 700,000 people who are members of the Church in Peru. I think that came as a surprise to some of the government leaders. They have elections here. They want those people to be happy. So having people know that the Church is here and making a difference in people’s lives is something which is of benefit for us as a Church. It’s of benefit also for the people of Peru.” 

Interfaith and Civic Connections 

Prior to the concert, the Choir and Orchestra held an interfaith event at a chapel in Limatambo. 

Elder Soares emphasized President Nelson’s call for peacemakers. “Our role [as people of faith] is to promote peace,” he said. 

“We felt the spirit of unity, support and love for each other,” Elder Soares said later. “We are all children of the same God. We were created from the same divinity, and we have the same spiritual roots.”

Senator Romney and his wife, Ann, spoke on the importance of families and how having a strong marriage will bless children and society. Monseñor Javier Del Rio Alba, the Archbishop of Arequipa, also spoke. He said everyone reflects the beauty of God, and as we get to know Him, we will recognize Him in our neighbors. With God present in our lives, he said, we will want to do good. He reflected on the many years of working with the Church of Jesus Christ in humanitarian efforts and reaching and serving neighbors. 

Monseñor Del Rio has met with Church leaders before. For example, he visited Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 2016. 

The Choir and Orchestra will perform again on Saturday evening at the National Stadium.