鈥淢ississippi Sounds鈥� Carries Southern Voices Across the World
Mon, 06/01/2026 - 09:00am | By: Mike Lopinto
The Southern Chorale, from 小狐狸直播 School of Music, launches an international America 250 tour through major cultural festivals in the United States and Europe. From the pine forests of Mississippi to historic venues in Italy, France, Latvia, and Estonia, the internationally celebrated Southern Chorale will carry the sounds of American music across two continents this summer in a tour that reflects both the artistic legacy of the American South and the global language of choral music.
Presented as part of the nationwide America 250 celebration, 鈥淢ississippi Sounds鈥� places one of the nation鈥檚 premier collegiate choral ensembles on stages that have long served as gathering places for artistic exchange, sacred music, and international collaboration. The 50-voice choir will perform a distinctly American program showcasing Charles Ives, Caroline Shaw, Ted Hearne, Moses Hogan, Paul Williams and Marvin Gaye. Genres will span fine art music, gospel, spirituals, Mississippi blues and American popular music customized for the Southern Chorale by Southern Miss alumnus Jonathan Rodgers.
The tour鈥檚 centerpiece includes appearances at three internationally significant festivals and artistic destinations that embody the role of music in cultural identity and civic life.
After regional preview appearances, the ensemble begins its festival schedule at FestivalSouth on Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg. FestivalSouth has become a recognized arts movement that has transformed the Pine Belt into one of the South鈥檚 emerging cultural capitals. As Mississippi鈥檚 only multiweek, multigenre arts festival, it has become a major regional incubator for music, theater, dance and visual art while drawing audiences and artists from across the country.
鈥淔estivalSouth is a great place to start, as the spirit of the entire tour is about Mississippi artists sharing regional stories on a world stage while staying connected to our audiences back home,鈥� said Dr. Gregory Fuller, conductor of the group. 鈥淔estivalSouth itself was built around the belief that arts experiences can transcend social and cultural boundaries, a mission that aligns naturally with the Southern Chorale鈥檚 international reputation for musical diplomacy and artistic excellence.鈥�
From Mississippi, the choir travels to Varese, Italy, for the renowned 鈥淚nCanto a Varese鈥� festival at the historic Basilica di San Vittore on June 21. Widely regarded as one of Italy鈥檚 prominent summer vocal festivals, InCanto a Varese brings together international choirs and vocal artists for performances throughout churches, theaters, gardens, lakeside venues and historic civic spaces across northern Italy. The festival鈥檚 emphasis on choral artistry and cultural exchange makes it a fitting setting for an ensemble rooted in both academic rigor and expressive storytelling.
The tour culminates at the 鈥淲hite Nights Festival鈥� in Haapsalu, Estonia, on July 4 inside the medieval fortress at Haapsalu Cathedral. Estonia occupies a singular place in the global choral world, where communal singing is deeply connected to national identity, cultural preservation and artistic innovation. The Baltic nation鈥檚 celebrated singing tradition helped shape modern Estonia itself, and festivals throughout the region continue to attract some of the world鈥檚 finest choirs and composers.
That connection becomes especially meaningful as the Southern Chorale performs music by acclaimed Estonian composer T玫nu K玫rvits, whose specially written suite for the ensemble draws inspiration from Mississippi blues traditions. The collaboration symbolizes an extraordinary artistic bridge between two regions separated by geography but united through deeply rooted musical storytelling.
Additional performances throughout Europe place the ensemble in some of the continent鈥檚 most historically resonant sacred and artistic spaces:
- Siena 鈥� Chiesa di San Martino 鈥� June 23
- Orl茅ans 鈥� with La Sarabande at 脡glise Saint-Marc茅au 鈥� June 28
- Tours 鈥� with E la Nave Va and La Sarabande at 脡glise Notre-Dame-La-Riche 鈥� June 29
- Riga 鈥� St. Peter鈥檚 Church 鈥� July 1
Before departing overseas, Southern Chorale will present a series of regional preview concerts designed to share the program with local audiences:
- Richton 鈥� Richton Methodist Church 鈥� June 9 at 7 p.m.
- Gulfport 鈥� St. Peter鈥檚-by-the-Sea 鈥� June 10 at 7 p.m.
- Mobile 鈥� Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception 鈥� June 11 at 7:30 p.m., featuring Mobile鈥檚 Singing Children
More than a concert tour, 鈥淢ississippi Sounds鈥� represents a cultural exchange between Mississippi and the wider world. It highlights how the stories, harmonies and traditions of the American South continue to resonate far beyond its borders.
Tickets for the FestivalSouth performance are available .
Visit Southern Miss Choral Activities for a list of programs, tour information and additional details.
About the School of Music The School of Music at 小狐狸直播 is the state鈥檚 flagship music program and
a destination campus for the study of music across the region, the United States and
the world. Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, the school offers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees and has earned a national
and international reputation for excellence. Its distinguished faculty members are
active performers and educators who appear on stages from local communities to major
international venues. The School of Music is home to acclaimed band, choral, orchestral,
jazz, opera and musical theater ensembles and provides extensive solo and chamber
music performance opportunities. Students regularly perform at regional, national
and international events and work with leading guest artists in preparation for careers
as 21st century performers and educators.