MORNINGSIDE VOCAL ARTS FESTIVAL
FEATURING KYLE PEDERSON
JANUARY 11-12, 2026
The Morningside University Vocal Arts Festival will be held on Sunday, January 11, and Monday, January 12, 2026, with renowned composer, Kyle Pederson, in residence.
As part of this high school event, many of the region’s finest high school musicians will prepare and perform four of the composer’s choral selections under the direction of Dr. Ryan Person, participate in special masterclasses with the composer, and take part in voice classes and lessons with Shannon Salyards Burton, Morningside’s director of voice studies, and other music faculty members. A final performance on Monday evening will feature the Festival Choir, Morningside Choir, and three select high school soloists.
FEATURING
KYLE PEDERSON
Kyle Pederson (b. 1971) is a Minneapolis-based composer, lyricist, pianist, and educator. Kyle was awarded the ACDA Genesis Prize in 2020 and the American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019. His work has been commissioned, premiered, and recorded by All State/Honors choirs, and youth, church, college, and professional choirs around the world. Kyle enjoys working at the intersection of the sacred and secular, and his lyrics and music invite the choir and audience to be agents of hope, grace, and compassion in the world. Kyle has an undergraduate degree from Augustana University, a Masters Degree in Education from University of St. Thomas, and an MFA in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Art. His work is published by Walton, Santa Barbara, Galaxy, Beckenhorst, Morningstar, Alfred, Hal Leonard, and Carl Fischer music publishers. Additional information and links to Kyle’s music can be found at .
THE ARTS AT MORNINGSIDE
SCHOOL OF VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
The Morningside University School of Visual and Performing Arts provides immersive opportunities for Morningside students and the Siouxland community to experience the power of music and the fine arts. All Morningside students, regardless of major, can audition and perform in ensembles and productions.
