When Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2017, the Missouri State University Chorale was front and center. The Chorale, directed by Dr. Cameron LaBarr, performed during the nationally televised inaugural ceremony on the Capitol’s West Front, which was watched by an estimated 40 million people.

Senator Roy Blunt, Missouri State alum and chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, selected the Chorale as the entertainment for this momentous occasion. This select choir of 50 voices has toured throughout the United States, Europe and South Africa and performs regularly at statewide and national conferences. The world had the opportunity to see our outstanding Bears perform and members of the Chorale witnessed firsthand the significant impact of civic engagement at the national level.