UMSL alum Maria A. Ellis directs a group of high school singers during Acappellooza Fall on Sept. 24 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

The University of Missouri–St. Louis hosted more than 750 high school students from the St. Louis Metropolitan area and beyond last week for Acappellooza Fall at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

The event, held in conjunction with the Ambassadors of Harmony, provides a unique educational experience that immerses young people in the joy of singing a cappella music. Associate Professor Jim Henry, the director of Choral Studies at UMSL and the co-director of the Ambassadors of Harmony, led the two-day event with help from a team of top music educators, vocalists and directors. The students all learned two songs with tenors and bass singers attending the first day on Sept. 23 and sopranos and altos attending on Sept. 24. Students also had a chance to witness performances from UMSL’s University Singers, Vocal Point and Assistant Professor Bethany Worrell, the director of vocal studies, as well Ambassadors of Harmony and Visions of Harmony.

Social media manager Valerie Furlong captured video from the event: