The Missouri State University Chorale conducted its first tour of South America when the group visited Chile and Argentina in May 2024.

The tour spanned 17 days and seven cities.

“These trips provide a fantastic opportunity for our students to share wonderful moments of music making together,” said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, Clif and Gail Smart professor in music and director of choral studies. “But more than that, they will share in life experiences from exploring the outdoors to sharing meals with people from all over the world.”

The Chorale performed with several university and local choirs, singing pieces from all over the world.

The repertoire included selections from Europe and North America, including an original song composed by MSU alumnus Erich Eastman. The Chorale also sang several South American pieces, ranging from contemporary choral works to arrangements of folk songs.

In addition to performing, the group also enjoyed local cultures and activities. The group hiked in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, enjoyed white water rafting and indulged in local cuisine such as empanadas.

“My favorite non-musical moment was our after-rehearsal party in Córdoba,” said Marian Benion, a senior music major in the Department of Music. “We spent the night dancing together and learning their cultural dances and eating good food that the members of the host choir made us.”

“Universal language” of music continues to inspire

For Tanner Munson, a music graduate student, “El Ultimo Café,” was a favorite piece.

“El Ultimo Café” is a folk song reminiscing about the end of a relationship and the last coffee two people shared. It depicts a kind of “final meeting between two lovers,” Munson said.

Performing the piece “was our way of saying goodbye to an audience that welcomed us with open arms and open hearts,” Munson added. “From the first line you could hear the gasps of recognition in the audience. This piece is deeply loved by the people of South America. By the end there was hardly a dry eye in the house, myself included.”

Addison Collins, a junior music major, remarked about the “wonderful fellowship” through singing the Chorale enjoyed with the South American people, despite the language barrier.

“Something I learned, which has been a recurring theme as I’ve traveled with Chorale, is that music truly is a universal language,” she said.

“Singing music from a culture different to your own in cultural exchanges such as this is a deeply profound experience,” LaBarr said. “You sing of their life experiences, their joy, their sorrow and grow to understand what they hold dear. It forces you to see your own life through another perspective and changes who you are as a person. This trip will shape the everyday lives of all of our students.”

Photo credits: Brian Gaukel.

Special thanks to Timothy Pallett for his assistance.