As part of their tour across the U.S., the U.S. Soldiers’ Chorus is now traveling through the midwest. Today they traveled around Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, visiting different high schools.

“Our mission is to tell the army story all across America,” the head conductor, Major Scott McKenzie, said. “We will in two years make it to almost all 5o states.”

Staff Sergeant Veronica Jaeger from Portland, Oregon has been in the group for a year and a half.

“So far I have done a tour of the North East and a tour of the south,” said Jaeger. “Now I’m doing the tour of the midwest.”

She has fond memories of singing with her choir back in high school, and enjoys performing for high schools now.

“It’s fantastic, I had a really strong program back at my school, it reminds me a lot of the program here as well,” Jaeger said. “It just reminds me how exciting it was to be getting into music for the first time, it is really inspiring to see you guys doing the same thing.”

During fourth period, the U.S. Soldiers’ Chorus worked with City High’s Concert and Chamber choir on the song Ezekiel Saw De Wheel arranged by Moses Hogan. The song was originally written for former director Dr. Grove for the Concert Choir at the time.

Sergeant Major William Gabbard, a graduate from the University of Iowa, led the master class.

“When you guys perform you guys need more sass,” said Gabbard. “You need t0 make sure you are singing with so much oomph.”