If a test audience can predict how worldwide audiences will react to a performance, then the Iowa State Singers are bound to impress.

The group’s “Bon Voyage” concert Sunday evening was the group’s farewell performance to their hometown audience before leaving for a weeklong trip to Los Angeles.

The performance gave the choir the opportunity to perform their 22-minute solo performance spot for an ISU audience before taking it to the worldwide stage.

Along with their prepared 22-minute solo performance, the Iowa State Singers entertained the crowd with a few of their favorites. They ended with “The Bells of Iowa State” to a standing ovation.

The love choir members have for singing creates an outstanding live performance that earned them the spot at the American Choral Directors Association national convention, choir members said.

“[Last year] was the most amazing musical experience I’ve ever had. When we walked out, everyone was smiling,” says Beth Middleton, junior in hotel, restaurant and institution management. Being chosen for the ACDA national convention is not only a tremendous honor, but the time away will give the choir an opportunity to strengthen their friendships, which has always been invaluable, choir members said.

Middleton views the choir like a big family and says she can always count on them to cheer her up if she’s having a bad day.

“I’ve met most of my best friends in choir. It’s added to my educational experience because I’ve met people from all different majors,” says Elizabeth Dahlstrom, senior in nutritional science and president of the Iowa State Singers.

The Iowa State Singers are the most select choral ensemble at Iowa State.

The 67 undergraduate members were chosen from more than 300 hopefuls.

James Rodde, director of choral activities at Iowa State and conductor of the Iowa State Singers, has been at Iowa State since 2001.

He says the choirs have gotten better each year.

Rodde has conducted other choirs that have been honored at the ACDA conference, but this is the Iowa State Singers’ first appearance. They were chosen through a blind audition process by sending in tape samples from the last three years.

The choir has planned trips to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Getty Museum and an opera, but the majority of the time will be spent listening to other choirs.

Dahlstrom says it will be fun to perform for some of the best choirs in the world.

Being chosen as one of about 60 choirs chosen nationally is a huge honor, she says.