Reynolds College Blog

Missouri State University Chorale featured in documentary film

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Missouri State University’s Chorale has been featured in Brian Gaukel’s documentary, “Choral Singing in America: Nurturing the Country’s Soul.”

The Chorale will host a screening of the documentary Feb. 5-6, 2026, at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Springfield, Missouri.

Choral music as storytelling

The film follows several stories from choral singers and leaders across the country.

“It’s quite interesting that there has never before been a documentary film about choral music in the United States,” said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, Director of Choral Studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor of Music. “We are honored to have the students in the MSU choral program featured in this film.”

LaBarr first met Gaukel when he was serving on an advisory committee for the film project. Gaukel has since produced several videos from the Chorale’s time abroad. These include the Chorale’s travels to South Korea, South America and, soon to be released, South Africa.

Young people in a studio recording
Members of the MSU Chorale in recording session, Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2021.

A team of choral conductors and filmmakers led the “Choral Singing in America” project, which explores choral music as storytelling.

As one example, the film highlights how the Missouri State Chorale portrayed the tragic events that occurred in Springfield in 1906. On Easter Sunday of that year, three African American men, Horace. B. Duncan, Fred Coker and William Allen, were lynched in Springfield’s Park Central Square.

“Storytelling is an integral part of choral music, and I believe that those watching this documentary will have a new-found appreciation for this,” LaBarr said.

Get tickets

For ticket and showtime information, call Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at (417) 708-9599.

 

Photo credits: Brian Gaukel.

Dean Shawn Wahl honored with Uebel Award

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Dr. Shawn T. Wahl, Dean of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH), has been honored with the 2025 Rick and Dee Uebel Award.

Created in 2019 and named after key supporters Rick and Dee Uebel, the award honors long-term commitment, generosity and support of the Missouri State University Choral Studies program.

Director of Choral Studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor Dr. Cameron LaBarr, along with the Missouri State University Choral Studies program, presented Wahl with the award Oct. 18 at the annual Choral Gala event, held at The Old Glass Place in Springfield, Missouri.

“I can say without a doubt that Dean Wahl’s support has been and continues to be critical to the success of all the arts programs at MSU, including the MSU Choirs,” LaBarr noted. “He’s the absolute faculty and student champion, with a work ethic second to none.”

[Read more…] about Dean Shawn Wahl honored with Uebel Award

Chorale returns to St. Louis Cathedral Basilica Jan. 9

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Missouri State University’s Chorale will perform at 7:30 p.m. January 9, 2026, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Hearing choral music in the Basilica is an experience “not to be missed,” said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, Director of Choral Studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor of Music.

“I want people to know how beautiful the space is,” he added. “It’s a work of art in and of itself, architecturally and with the glass mosaic tiles.”

This is senior music major Olivia Morris’s first trip to the Basilica. “I’m excited to understand why the other members of the Chorale love it so much,” she said.

The Chorale’s performance is part of the Basilica’s concert series, which includes The Tallis Scholars, The Vienna Boys Choir, Voces8, among others.

Purchase tickets

Performance will be “a beautiful journey”

The Chorale will open its 2026 concert by singing “Notre Pere,” from Part III of Frank Martin’s “In Terra Pax,” in French. “Notre Pere” is a reflective and chant-like setting of the Lord’s prayer, LaBarr said.

They will follow with two motet settings, Byrd’s sixteenth century piece, “Vigilate,” and MacMillan’s “Factus Est Repente” from the twentieth century.

Later in the program, the Chorale will perform Zander Fick’s “Die Onse Vader,” which LaBarr described as “a stunning setting of the Lord’s Prayer in Afrikaans.” They will follow with Franz Biebl’s, “Ava Maria.”

Soprano soloist Kara McBain, guest artist at Missouri State, will perform Havrylet’s “Prayer.” The song “is a beautiful plea for protection, sung in Ukrainian,” LaBarr said.

McBain will also perform Hyo-Won Woo’s “Requiem,” a four-movement work for soprano solo, cello and choir that fuses Korean and Western musical genres, LaBarr said. Missouri State’s Dr. Daniel Ketter will accompany McBain on cello.

Senior music major Trager Leeper said he was excited to perform in another Basilica concert. He is especially looking forward to the “Requiem” performance.

“The music is going to take us on a beautiful journey,” he said.

The Chorale will close the program with Martin’s “Mass for Double Choir.” According to LaBarr, the piece is rarely performed.

“This is one of the most outstanding works for a cappella choir of the twentieth century,” he said. “It is deeply spiritual and reflective, and it is an honor to get to perform it.”

Reynolds College collaborative concert scheduled for Dec. 4.

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The Department of Music is excited to announce a concert coordinated by Missouri State University’s Choral Union, Symphony Orchestra and dance students from the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Featuring Johannes Brahms’ “Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 52,” the collaborative effort is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. It is free and open to the public.

Before and after the concert, members of Mu Phi, Missouri State’s music fraternity, will be on hand to collect canned good donations.

“Universally adored” music

Brahms originally composed the waltzes for choir and piano four hands, explained Associate Director of Choral Studies Dr. Erin Plisco. Later, however, he transcribed several of the movements for choir and orchestra.

“Brahms is accessible for both choir and orchestra, and the music is charming and universally adored,” she said.

Plisco and Missouri State’s Orchestra Director, Dr. Yi-Ping Chen, will share conducting duties for the Liebeslieder. In addition, some of the music department’s graduate conducting students will conduct a few of the movements.

Meanwhile, Assistant Professor Dr. Perry Mears and Artist-in-Residence Parker Payne will perform the movements written for just piano and choir.

The concert will also feature additional selections from the orchestra and choir performing separately, Plisco said.

An orchestra on stage
The Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra. Photo credit: Kevin White/Missouri State University.

[Read more…] about Reynolds College collaborative concert scheduled for Dec. 4.

Missouri State Chorale to present “Tidings of Joy” Christmas concert Dec. 7

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Missouri State University’s Chorale will perform a festive Christmas concert, “Tidings of Joy,” at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Springfield, Missouri.

This marks the third year that the Chorale has presented a Christmas concert for the Springfield community, said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, Director of Choral Studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor of Music. It is also the first year they have performed a holiday concert at St. Joseph’s. The group performed the past two years at Christ Episcopal as part of that church’s concert series.

Proceeds from this year’s Christmas concert will assist with student travel costs for 2026, LaBarr said.

“This year, the Chorale will travel to Australia and New Zealand, the sixth continent that this group will have traveled to in the last decade,” he noted. “The money raised from these ticket sales will go directly to assisting with student costs for the trip.”

There are 50 student performers in this year’s Chorale.

“The MSU Chorale serves the university as ambassadors for our great institution and for our community,” LaBarr added. “The public affairs mission of MSU is exemplified every time we are together and certainly when we’re on the road, either domestically or abroad.”

Previous concerts sold out quickly, and LaBarr expects a good turnout for this year.

** This concert is sold out, however you may email Destiny Romero to check on additional availability. **

Old favorites and new traditions

LaBarr said audiences will recognize several songs during the concert. These include John Ricketts’ “Sing We Now of Christmas” and traditional carol arrangements by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, such as “Masters in This Hall” and “I Saw Three Ships.” Additional songs include the twentieth century composition “In Terra Pax” by Gerald Finzi, and the premiere of a new arrangement of “I Wander as I Wander” by John Wykoff.

The concert will introduce some new traditions as well.

“This year we will feature a soprano and baritone soloist on Finzi’s “In Terra Pax,” LaBarr said. Kara McBain and Troy Robertson will perform the solos. They are both Chorale alumni, and McBain is also a guest artist in the music department‘s voice area.

Bringing the magic of Christmas back home

For LaBarr, the Christmas concert represents a homecoming of sorts.

“The Chorale travels and performs all over the world, but there is something so special about getting to perform for our home audience,” he said. “The Christmas concert feels especially magical. We love getting to spend an evening with our friends and family, sharing in the warmth and beauty of the season.”

Mark your calendar