Chorale Archives - Reynolds College Blog

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.

LaBarr family takes the stage at Carnegie Hall

June 24, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Dr. Cameron LaBarr, director of choral studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor, was invited by the National Concerts organization to conduct a performance at Carnegie Hall April 11, 2026. He collaborated with Dr. Michael Barrett, former director of choral activities at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, to conduct the National Concert Chorus.

Cameron LaBarr conducted several pieces composed by his wife and Missouri State alumna, Susan LaBarr. She currently serves as a National Concert composer-in-residence. Those selections were “Where the Light Begins,” “Grace Before Sleep” and “The Cardinal and the Roller.”

The program also featured Parker Payne, artist-in-residence and collaborative pianist in Missouri State’s Department of Music. He accompanied the performers on piano.

Additionally, 10 Missouri State students sang in the concert, They were Kaden Chapman, Eto Tagur, Gio Hernandez, Anne Copiaco, Destiny Romero, Ashlee Martin, Katie Penkalski, Jonah Hagerty, Cole Dobbs and Nolan Scotidis. Several Missouri State alumni, faculty and staff also attended the performance to show their support.

This was Cameron LaBarr’s first official project with National Concerts. He and Barrett will appear again at Carnegie Hall in April 2027. The program will be similar in format to the 2026 performance. Susan LaBarr will once again serve as composer-in-residence.

Communication alumnus Luke Thomas enjoys growing San Antonio Spurs brand

June 2, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

To hear Missouri State University alumnus Luke Thomas describe it, his job with the San Antonio Spurs professional basketball franchise isn’t just a marketing job. It is “storytelling in a physical space.”

“Every detail, from the environment to the messaging to the way a fan interacts with a moment, is communicating something,” Thomas said. “My job is to make sure that message is intentional, cohesive and something people actually want to be a part of.”

Thomas’ job title is Experiential Marketing Manager, Strategic Growth for Spurs Sports and Entertainment. He joined the organization in early 2026. His responsibilities include planning large-scale fan activations, community events and other activities that “connect the Spurs to new and existing audiences,” he said.

“In Austin, this work comes to life across a series of tentpole moments throughout the year,” Thomas said. These include Spurs Week Austin, SXSW, Austin City Limits, Formula 1, and the Spurs International Half Marathon. The activities are designed to grow the Spurs’ brand in Austin and expand its presence globally, especially in Europe and Mexico.

“We just did an event in Paris for the playoffs,” Thomas cited as an example of the Spurs’ global marketing campaigns. “We will be back in July, and then we are playing games in Paris and Manchester, England, in January.”

Before his current position with the Spurs, Thomas worked at Walt Disney World in Park Planning and Integration. In that role, he managed large-scale operational and event logistics at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Music alumnus Jared Swope appointed to full-time roster with Trinity Choir

February 6, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Music alumnus Jared Swope has been named to the full-time roster of the GRAMMY-nominated Trinity Choir at Trinity Church in New York, New York.

Swope performs two Sunday morning services and an improvised compline service with the choir every week, as well as special liturgical services throughout the year

Trinity Choir performs a robust concert calendar, the Bach at One series, and frequently records and goes on tour, according to Swope. Individual choir singers also serve as section leaders and soloists for the two community choirs at Trinity.

Along with his Trinity Choir duties, Swope is on the core roster of True Concord Voices & Orchestra and the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and a founding member of Fourth Wall Ensemble in New York City. In addition, he frequently collaborates with Spire Chamber Ensemble, Three Notch’d Road Baroque, Ensemble Altera and other groups throughout the country.

Missouri State University Chorale featured in documentary film

January 8, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

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.