Iowa State is an old institution, and one of its oldest organizations is the Iowa State Singers, an elite mixed choral group celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Iowa State Singers is one of six choral groups at ISU “under the umbrella of the music department,” Robert Molison, director of the Iowa State Singers, said.

Among all of the choirs, about 300 students are involved with the choral department at ISU.

“It’s a big honor to be in [Iowa State Singers] because it’s the ‘elite’ choir of the ISU music department,” Becky Hunter, freshman in vocal performance, said.

The group is made of students of all ages and majors, but about 35 to 40 percent are music majors. The members are financially supported by the music department in terms of a place to rehearse, advertising and purchasing music.

Rehearsals are held every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons, adding up to practice time of about five hours each week. There also are night rehearsals when performances are approaching.

The group is well-rounded as it performs a wide variety of musical styles.

“It’s extremely varied in the kind of repertoire we do,” Molison said. “We try to sing a very wide variety of music from the last five centuries.”

The choir is primarily devoted to classical choral music of the earlier eras, much of it in foreign languages. They also do a lot of modern music, including works by living composers, folk and spiritual music and music about ISU.

The Iowa State Singers perform many times each year, including a concerts in the fall and spring. The group also performs several other concerts.

“Last year, we sang with the Des Moines Symphony, the Holiday Festival and the Cyclone Honor Choir,” Molison said.

Last Sunday, the group sang with the Iowa State orchestra in “Carmina Burana.”

“It tends to be both a concert choir and joins with other groups,” he said.

The group also tours to showcase ISU’s singing talent, including a tour in Iowa every other year and out of state tours during alternate years.

“Last spring we toured in Colorado,” Molison said. “We go on longer tours too, but they take longer to plan so they come less often.”

One of those long tours is fast approaching for the Singers. For about two years, the choir has planned to celebrate its 50th anniversary by touring Australia from May 12-24. For the special 50th anniversary tour, the Singers will be joined by 20 alumni.

“A lot [of the alumni] are going for the vacation, but some will be singing as part of the choir,” Molison said.

“We tour about every 10 years overseas,” he said, adding they have already been to Europe and Russia. “This is sort of the ultimate tour —the chance to really celebrate the half century of this choir’s existence.”

The Singers couldn’t be more excited about the venture half way around the world.

“I’m ecstatic about going. It’s going to be a neat tour,” Jason Hurst, senior in music, said. “We want the university as well as Iowa represented globally, and it has been a dream of Dr. Molison’s to go to Australia for a long, long time.”

The choir has also been fundraising for a long time to help finance the musical tour.

“We’ve been raising money for a couple of years,” Molison said.

To do so, the group has been selling the CD they recorded two years ago that features its greatest hits — “Under the Campanile.” It has also held many concerts and charged admission to help support the tour.

Before Valentine’s Day, the choir sold singing Valentines. Members split into quartets and sang for a “special someone.”

“We’re still raising money and trying to do it in a musical way,” Molison said.

Before the Singers depart for Australia, the group will be giving a concert on April 26 at 3 p.m. in the Music Hall Recital Hall. The choir is currently preparing the music for the coming spring concert, which it will also sing on tour.

“We’re inviting a lot of people who have helped us financially,” Molison said. “We will be fundraising even at this concert.”

There is no admission for the concert, but those who can are encouraged to donate money.

Molison also encourages students and anyone interested in hearing the melodic sounds of the Iowa State Singers to attend.

“We hope that we’ll get a good group of students to come to our concert,” he said.