SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Morningside Choir recently added a once-in-a-lifetime performance to its century-long legacy.

Twenty-three members of the Morningside University Choir traveled in March to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of Manhattan Concert Productions’ Octavo Series, sharing the world-famous stage with other collegiate singers. The milestone moment comes as the choir prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday later this month.

“All of our students here at Morningside are fantastic, but they really dug into this opportunity because it was once in a lifetime,” said Dr. Ryan Person, director of choral activities. “To see their eyes open up when they walked onto that stage was special. I’m just so happy that our students enjoy being excellent in music and the great music we make.”

Preparation for Carnegie Hall began in December and ramped up as the performance approached. Rehearsals in New York gave students time to adjust to the venue and polish a program that ranged from Renaissance to contemporary pieces.

“I’ve always had the dream of singing at Carnegie Hall,” said Zariah Strong ’26, a soprano II. “I was awestruck for a moment. We practiced as much as we could, and Dr. Person has been wonderful with us.”

The Morningside Choir has a long history of travel and performance. It began touring in-state in 1927, and ventured out-of-state for the first time in 1931 with a performance in Chicago’s Kimball Hall. Its first international trip came in 1962, when the choir performed across Germany during that summer.

For Person, the support behind the scenes made the Carnegie experience even more meaningful.

“It is an honor, and we certainly don’t take it for granted,” he said. “That’s why I continue to love working here. We have such great support from administration for opportunities that also support student learning.”

Strong took that student learning to heart. Originally a soprano I, she spent much of the year singing alto, only to switch back to soprano II for the concert.

“It’s not as hard going back up, but it was an adjustment—reworking muscles I hadn’t used in so long,” she said.

That once-in-a-lifetime moment will soon be followed by another: On April 26, Strong and her fellow choir members will take the stage with more than 150 alumni at Morningside’s Centennial Concert at Eppley Auditorium.