To celebrate scientist and inventor George Washington Carver, the ISU concert choirs will perform alongside the Golden Voices Concert Choir from Tuskegee University on Tuesday at Stephens Auditorium.

Though it’s not the first time Iowa State and Tuskegee have worked together to honor Carver for George Washington Carver day, this is the first time the schools have collaborated musically.

“This will be a very special event as the Golden Voices are a truly world renowned university vocal ensemble,” said Brad Dell, chairperson of the Iowa State music and theatre department.

The first African American student to enroll at Iowa State, Carver, born a slave in 1860s Missouri, studied genetics and horticulture and graduated from the college in 1894.

He later joined the faculty before going on to teach at Tuskegee University. Carver left an indelible impact and paved the way for numerous advances in agriculture and Black students in STEM.

The concert will have two parts: Wayne Barr, director of Golden Voices, will open the show with an interactive lecture on African-American spirituals and black choral music with examples performed by the choir, then Golden Voices will sing in collaboration with all four ISU concert choirs — the Iowa State Singers, Statesmen, Lyrica and Cantamus.

“Tuskegee University and Iowa State University share a longstanding land-grant partnership rooted in collaboration across teaching, research and extension,” said Theressa Cooper, assistant dean of collaborative initiatives at Iowa State.

Entry is free with a good will donation, doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30.