Choir Tour Fund-Bears Give Back 2026

*The Choir is on their tour right now!

Our A Cappella Choir was founded in 1935 by St. Olaf Choir alumnus Kenneth Lee and was LR’s flagship choral ensemble. The choir performs throughout the year, which includes an annual fall concert, A Lenoir-Rhyne Christmas, and a spring tour. Every other year the tour is international while the opposite years are typically more local.

Ryan Luhrs, Ph.D., associate professor of music, is the director of the A Cappella Choir. He began leading the choir in 2016. The choir recently finished their 2025 spring tour which included performances in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York City. They were able to revive their planned 2020 tour which was cancelled due to the pandemic. These tours give our students wonderful experience and opportunities and allow multiple opportunities to connect with alumni.

The Lenoir-Rhyne A Cappella Choir is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. For nine decades, the choir has given students the opportunity to grow through music, travel, and shared experiences that last a lifetime.

In March 2026, the choir will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey: retracing the historic route of the 1961 Freedom Rides, traveling from Washington, D.C. to New Orleans. Along the way, our students will collaborate with Southeastern Louisiana University choirs and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, performing a powerful program that blends narration and song to honor the courage of the original Freedom Riders—college students who risked their lives to confront segregation and demand justice.

This unique tour will allow LR students to immerse themselves in a defining chapter of American history, gaining firsthand insight while serving as ambassadors of our university and the transformative power of music.

You can help make this experience possible. Your support ensures that every student, regardless of financial need, can take part in this extraordinary journey of learning, leadership, and song. Join us in celebrating the choir’s 90th year and empowering our students to carry forward the legacy of courage and justice.