RCASH Highlights Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Percussion Studio hosts first Discovery Day event

July 27, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Percussion Studio recently held its first Discovery Day learning clinic for area middle and high school students.

Thirteen area students participated in the event, held in April this year on the Springfield campus. Participating students came from Springfield’s Cherokee Middle School, Central High School and Parkview High School as well as Neosho, Nixa and Ozark schools.

Students did not need to audition to attend, according to Dr. Yun Ju Pan, assistant professor in the Department of Music. “Anyone with an interest in learning percussion is warmly welcome,” she said.

The Percussion Studio consists of all music major and minor students who take private percussion lessons. The result is a sense of community and collaboration, Pan said. “For us, the Percussion Studio is like a family—a place where students learn, hang out, practice and rehearse together. They are constantly learning from and supporting one another.”

Paws to the Polls wins MSEED grant

July 20, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Paws to the Polls (PAWS) student organization has been awarded an Experiential Education for Student Development (MSEED) grant from the university’s strategic planning funding.

PAWS will use the MSEED grant during the Fall 2026 semester to conduct research on civic engagement and community involvement at Missouri State. Although the project will occur mostly on the university’s Springfield campus, other off-campus sites include the Greene County Election Center and area high schools. The group also plans to work with Leadership Springfield and the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC). NAC oversees all neighborhood associations in Springfield.

With the grant, PAWS will coordinate focus groups, surveys, workshops, a voting fair, voter education materials distribution and voter registration events. Later this fall, the students will compile and analyze the data they collect from these efforts.

Between 15-25 PAWS members and other students will participate in the program, according to Dr. Suzanne Walker-Pacheco, faculty advisor to the group. Additionally, another 120-150 student volunteers will eventually participate in the broader program. In all, Walker-Pacheco estimates, the project will reach anywhere from 3,000-6,000 students.

Missouri State Chorale members describe tour to Australia and New Zealand

July 15, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

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.”

Members of a choir performing on stage — The Missouri State University Chorale performs in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo credit: Haydn Nicholson.

Paws to the Polls supports Informed Voter Coalition’s “Meet the Electeds” event

July 10, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Continuing its efforts to encourage local civic education and engagement, the Informed Voter Coalition (IVC) hosted a “Meet the Electeds” event on the Missouri State campus April 11. Missouri State’s Paws to the Polls students assisted with the event and visited with the officials.

Springfield and Greene County officials attending the event were County Clerk Shane Shoeller, County Assessor Brent Johnson, Presiding County Commissioner Bob Dixon, County Commissioner Rusty MacLachlan and Springfield Public School Systems Board Member Shurita Thomas-Tate.

Tent Theatre brings back “Beehive: The 60’s Musical”

July 1, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

“Beehive: The 60’s Musical” returns to Missouri State University’s Tent Theatre July 8-11 and 13-18.

Professor Sarah Wiggin of the Department of Theatre and Dance is the show’s director.

Performances are at the John Goodman Amphitheatre (JGA). All show times are 8 p.m.

Ticket information

Two young women singing and dressed in 1960s fashion — Carrington Black (left) as “Jasmine” and Gianna Mangum as “Gina” get the giggles while rehearsing for “Beehive.” Photo credit: Jackson Chavis.

Individual, group, and season tickets are now on sale. Patrons can purchase by mail, calling the box office at 417-836-7678 or 1-888-476-7849, or buying online.

On show days, Tent Theatre patrons can pick up their tickets at the will-call kiosk. It is located next to the Amphitheatre and opens at 6:30 p.m.

Visit TentTheatre.MissouriState.edu for further event information.

Get tickets

Back by popular demand

Wiggin is bringing back the popular musical, which she first directed in 2021.

“We are bringing Beehive back for a couple of reasons,” she noted. “It satisfies our needs for limited scenery during the time without our scene shop.”

Several aspects of the production “will be similar or even the same,” Wiggin added. “But the design has changed some due to being in a different space with a different cast.”

Two young women dressed in 1960s fashion — Scout Henderson (left) as “Pattie” and Teagan Allison as “Allison” can’t get enough of the gorgeous 1960s fashion in “Beehive.” Photo credit: Jackson Chavis.

One important difference is that in 2021 the show was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited seating. “We were indoors and spaced out, which means only a small portion of our audience could see it,” Wiggin said.

Even within those restrictions, the show was a hit, she recalled. “This show is a very exciting evening of celebrating powerful, iconic female artists of the decade and, though it is theatre, it feels like a concert.”

“The audiences in 2021 raved about the production and were even moved to standing during some songs,” she added.

“I’m hopeful more people will be able to see this fabulous show,” Wiggin said. “It is such a good time, and we really need opportunities to have a good time as a community!”

Visit Tent Theatre @ Mo State

Reynolds College blog posts are human researched, written and reviewed unless otherwise indicated.