Reynolds College Blog

Four Missouri State voice students win at CRNATS

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Four Missouri State University vocal performance students placed in the final rounds of the Central Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing (CRNATS) student auditions Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

Veronika Yerina, a junior vocal performance and biology double major, placed first in the upper division treble category. She sang Mozart’s “Dove sono i bei momenti.”

Senior vocal performance major Kyleigh Hendrix placed second in the upper division treble category, while sophomore vocal performance major Mara Bannister placed third in lower division treble. Payton Ballinger, who is pursuing a master’s in vocal performance, placed third in advanced division.

All four now advance to the national semifinals, which will be held in the spring of 2026.

Other students participating in the CRNATS competition were Abigail Teberian, Allison Britt, Aryan Neece-McHaffie, Ella Greninger, Noah Maddox, Jacob Leath, Parker Ohman, Kaitlyn Wilson and Wade Bogart. Eight of these students advanced to the semifinal rounds.

Several members of Missouri State’s music faculty traveled with the students. They were Dr. Carol Chapman, voice area coordinator; Dr. Perry Mears, assistant professor of collaborative piano and accompanist; Dr. Chris Thompson, professor of vocal music; Dr. Ann Marie Daehn, professor of vocal music and Opera Workshop; Visiting Artist Kara McBain; and Dr. Paula Patterson, head of the Department of Music.

“We are all very proud of the students that participated in the auditions,” Chapman said.

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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.

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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.”