The Missouri State Chorale once again proudly represented the university on an international stage when they traveled to Australia and New Zealand May 9-26, 2026. During their stay, the Chorale visited six cities and performed in seven concerts.

“This tour marks the sixth continent visited by the Chorale in the past decade,” said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, director of choral studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor. “Tours like this one allow us to engage with the university’s public affairs mission every day—changing the lives of our students forever and putting the goodwill of Missouri State out into the world.”

Whirlwind tour from Sydney to Auckland

Upon first arriving in Australia, the group spent three days in Sydney. While there, they took a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, visited the Featherdale Wildlife Park and performed their first concert at Verbrugghen Hall.

Chorale members spent the remainder of the trip visiting various parts of New Zealand. After a brief stay in Queenstown, they traveled to Christchurch, where they performed with the Christchurch Youth Choir. Next, in Wellington, they performed at the Cathedral of St. Paul. From there, the Chorale traveled to Murupara and performed at the local school.

By May 23, they were off to Auckland to finish the final leg of their tour. First, they performed with the Auckland Youth Choir. Then they gave their seventh and final concert in Auckland’s St. Matthew-in-the-City church. After one more day of sightseeing and farewells, the group headed home May 26.

LaBarr described the entire experience as thrilling. In addition to a two-day immersion in Maori culture, the group enjoyed “incredible outdoor experiences.” These included the Australian Blue Mountains and Milford Sound, as well as a breathtaking view of New Zealand’s Mt. Cook.

More importantly, the students connected with the Australian and New Zealand peoples and their cultures on an intimate level simply by sharing music, LaBarr noted. The Chorale collaborated with a local choir at each location, “[singing] music together from each others’ culture, something we will never forget.”

Connections inspire student journal writing

Inspired in part by that sense of connection, Olivia Morris and Addison Collins took the time to write about their experience. They both generously agreed to share excerpts from their personal journals with RCASH News.

Morris, a junior vocal music education major, and Collins, a senior music major, knew their professional profiles would be enhanced by their time in Australia and New Zealand. They both also recognized, though, that they had encountered transformative experiences that changed their lives forever.

Stunning vistas, unforgettable friendships: journal by Olivia Morris

Morris took photos and videos and kept a travel journal during the event. “I am not a profound writer,” she wrote, “but I find enjoyment in documenting how I feel and being able to reflect on my days.”

One of her favorite moments was arriving in Queenstown, New Zealand. “I honestly had no idea what to expect,” Morris wrote. The country’s natural beauty mesmerized her the moment she stepped off the plane.

“I was met with gigantic mountains,” she recalled. “I was stunned. We took the charter bus through the hills of Queenstown and went on a little tour. We saw hundreds of sheep, green hills and fall trees because it was fall there, which we knew, but none of us packed warm enough clothes.”

“This particular bus ride I was sitting on the window seat,” Morris continued. “I was staring outside and had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and hope. I began to tear up at the thought of the world being so large with so much opportunity. It really felt like whatever would happen following this trip, that it would be okay.”

“In the moment”

“Since over a year ago when this trip was announced, I have been anticipating this trip to be impactful, musically rewarding and a way to strengthen the bonds between the people who I love to sing with,” Morris recalled.

This all came together during one of the welcome dinners the Chorale enjoyed.

“It was such a good time,” Morris wrote. “I would look at my phone only periodically, and I didn’t care what time it was. My roommates and I sat together, and that was a great choice. We would all laugh at the exact same jokes, and our energy really kept up with each other. I think that was the most ‘in the moment’ I’ve been in a really long time.”

“‘In the moment’ is the best way to describe the overall theme of this trip for me,” Morris continued. “It makes me smile to remember how much I experienced, and how this trip happened just when I needed it the most.”

Life changing memories: journal by Addison Collins

“Truly life changing,” is how Collins described her time in Australia and New Zealand. “We were immersed in the most breathtaking scenery, incredible activities and moving cultural exchanges,” she wrote.

A special memory for Collins was her time at Kohutapu Lodge in New Zealand.

“This was a moment in our trip where we truly got to slow down and learn, soaking it all up like a sponge,” she remembered. “In fact, this place was the hardest to leave.”

This was partly because Collins learned about the culture and history of New Zealand’s First Peoples, the Maori.

“We were immediately stunned at the rich history of the Maori,” she said. “We got to walk through the most beautiful forest to see the oldest stone carvings on their land. It was incredible to see how history was laid out in stone, and it was so well preserved.”

Collins described how, after that first excursion, the group settled into their cabins, played some games and learned the history of Maori warriors.

“This was only the beginning,” Collins wrote. “We spent the rest of our time learning about the Haka, weaving, eating delicious hangi and reflecting together.”

“Rainforest bathing”

After performing at the Murupara Area School, the group embarked on a rainforest hike. Here, Collins wrote, they were able to truly soak in the glorious beauty of the forest.

“We continued to learn about [Maori] history and the continued efforts to preserve such beauty of nature. At the end of our hike, our guides so honestly shared about how their culture and how their understanding of nature has shaped and renewed their lives.”

The Chorale members then practiced what the Maori call “rainforest bathing.”

“It’s not what you think!” Collins wrote. “It is a practice that the Maori do, where you walk in the forest, find a quiet spot to sit and reflect in complete silence. The Chorale sat in complete silence, listening to the forest’s sounds, reflecting, praying, thinking and resting. This came to a close as our guide sang a song in Maori.”

“What a gift”

Collins then described how the group returned to Kohutapu Lodge and celebrated with a shared meal. As they sang songs around the campfire, Chorale members were asked to summarize their experience in one word.

“My word was gift,” Collins wrote. “As we were able to truly slow down, reflect and consider our experiences, I could only think of what a gift it is to explore, what a gift it is to be in nature, what a gift it is to sing, and what a gift it is to have such a community.”

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