Each fall, Central Methodist University’s elite singing group, the Chorale, sets out on a musical tour – visiting schools and churches to share their passion for music and performance.
The choir tour runs for just under a week beginning Thursday, Nov. 15 and wrapping up on Tuesday, Nov. 20.
The Chorale will visit several Missouri high schools for day concerts. Their stops include Chillicothe, Fayette, Kearney, Lockwood, Ray-Pec, Southern Boone County, Waynesville, and Willard.
The concerts taking place at churches, which are free and open to all, begin with a 7 p.m. performance at Campbell United Methodist Church (UMC) in Springfield on Thursday, Nov. 15. Other performances include Excelsior Springs UMC at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16; Ashland UMC in St. Joseph at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, and 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18; Raymore UMC at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18; and Chillicothe UMC at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19.
This year, CMU’s Chorale was honored with a prestigious invitation to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference, which will be held at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. They also were invited to the National American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Convention in Kansas City as one of six choirs in Missouri to sing for the 40th anniversary celebration of the Robert Ray Gospel Mass.
The Chorale is led by Dr. Claude Westfall, CMU director of choral activities. Among his many other musical accomplishments, Westfall was honored with the Luther T. Spayde Award of Excellence during the Missouri Choral Directors Association (MCDA) 40th Annual Conference in July.
Chorale members include:
Alto
Kekona Asi, a freshman education major from Waynesville; Libby Cueni-Smith, a sophomore music education major from Lake Ozark; Hannah Guilford, a junior music education major from Sturgeon; Crystal Kimmi, a junior music education major from Stockton;
Joni Lehman, a freshman pre-major from Jefferson City; Amanda Lewis, a sophomore music education major from Palmyra; Chely Stratton, a freshman music ministry major from Raymore; Kylie VanGundy, a freshman biology major from Wentzville
Bass
Alex Autry, a sophomore music education major from Norborne; Gannon Craig, a senior music education major from Salem; Alex Fields, a sophomore music education major from Fulton; Josh Goggin, a senior music major from Fayette;
Malik Hughes, a senior music major from St. Joseph; Zachary Kierstead, a senior music major from Kirkwood; Ben Pilger, a freshman music education major from Festus; Hadley Wiggins, a sophomore business major from Macon
Soprano
Cori Bryan, a junior music education major from Springfield; Madalyn Bartholomew, a freshman music education major from Salisbury; Cayla Carr, a senior music education major from Mount Sterling; Marissa Dickman, a sophomore music education major from Maryland Heights;
Anna Guerkink, a freshman music education major from Perryville; Rachel Martin, a junior music education major from Richland; Abbey Ruggles, a junior music ministry major from Fayette; Hailey Sage, a freshman music education major from Fayette
Tenor
Adam Christal, a senior music major from Boonville; Ezechiel Daos, a freshman music education major from Boonville; Keaton Denney, a junior music education major from Cole Camp; Tres Hampton, a freshman music major from Dexter;
Joey Mayo, a sophomore music ministry major from Lees Summit; Josh Stettes, a junior music education major from Pacific; Hayden Vaughn, a junior music ministry major from Springfield; Duane Watson, a senior music major from Dixon
