The Missouri State Chorale raised its profile with its performance during the Inauguration in January. These talented musicians are preparing to hit the road again for a tour of the Southwest this May. We caught up with Dr. Cameron LaBarr, director of choral studies, for a preview of the Chorale’s upcoming shows.
What’s the vision behind this tour?
We’re thrilled to be traveling to the Southwestern United States this year. The Chorale tours every May, just after commencement. The tour allows for the Chorale to connect with Missouri State alumni and friends in these regions. We also connect with prospective future Bears – we’ll be doing combined concerts both in the Dallas and Amarillo areas with three of the finest high school choirs in Texas.
Why did you pick these cities? When was the last time the Chorale performed in the Southwest?
The Grand Canyon is a major component of this tour. Over the past two years, we’ve really enjoyed mixing in some of the great outdoors into our travels. In 2016, we hiked 10 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina, and last year we went on a three-day safari in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. When deciding on this year’s tour – we wanted to find a place where few of the students have traveled – the Grand Canyon quickly rose to the top of the list. We also have strong connections in Texas. The Chorale performed at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano, TX on tour in 2009 – so we’re thrilled to be back. At that time, I was working at this church, while in graduate school at the University of North Texas. To my knowledge, the Chorale has not been to New Mexico and Arizona in the past.
What are you performing?
We are performing a program titled “The Hour Has Come,” which is also the name of the last work on the concert, by Canadian composer Srul Irving Glick. The concert theme deals with peace in the world and and how we might come together through empathy, understanding, and love to improve the collective human condition. Works on the program include those by: Bach, Victoria, Wykoff, MacMillan, Parker, and others. At our two Texas performances, we’ll sing “Grace Before Sleep,” by MSU alumna Susan LaBarr, ’05 and ’07, combined with the high school choirs.
There are receptions after the concerts in Norman, OK, and in Plano, TX. Please RSVP with the Missouri State Alumni Association. All concerts are free and open to the public.
RSVP for Norman, OK, or Plano, TX
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Date: Saturday, May 20
- Location: McFarlin United Methodist Church, Norman, OK
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Date: Sunday, May 21
- Location: Christ United Methodist Church, Plano, TX
Amarillo, TX
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Date: Monday, May 22
- Location: St. Paul Methodist Church, Amarillo, TX
Santa Fe, NM
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Date: Tuesday, May 23
- Location: United Church of Christ, Santa Fe, NM
Paradise Valley, AZ
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Date: Thursday, May 25
- Location: Camelback Bible Church, Paradise Valley, AZ
Are there members of the Chorale looking forward to performing in their home state?
Yes! Robert Gibson, graduate student in choral conducting, is from Houston, Texas and received his bachelor of music education degree from the University of North Texas. He’s certainly looking forward to seeing family and friends at our concert in the Dallas area.
Have you connected with alumni in the Southwest who might attend?
Yes – the Alumni Association has been fantastic in helping with this by sending postcards and emails to our alumni and friends living within a certain radius of our concerts. We also have a recent Chorale alumna, Dovie White, currently living and working in Phoenix, who is volunteering and attending our concert there. We’re hoping to have many alumni come out to see and experience our concert.
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