President Obama is sworn in as U.S. president at his inauguration in 2009 (Timothy A. Clary/Getty)

The Lee University Festival Choir. Photo:leeuniversity.edu

Howell and France are graduates of Elmore Stoutt High School. France is a junior communication major with an emphasis on journalism, while Howell is a senior pastoral ministry major, at Lee.

On behalf of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, US Senator Lamar Alexander invited the choral group in November to sing at the swearing-in ceremonies that will take place mid-day on the upper west terrace of the United States Capitol.

The 200-voice choir, led by Dean of the School of Music Dr. William R. Green, consists of students who have been chosen from seven campus choral ensembles, including 350 vocalists, which perform regularly as part of the Lee University School of Music.

Lee University is a private, comprehensive university with a current enrollment of 4,954, located in Cleveland, Tenn. Lee provides a liberal arts education in a Christ-centered environment, offering more than 70 degree programs among its four colleges: Arts and Sciences, Music, Education and Religion. Lee's growing reputation for academic excellence can be seen in the high caliber of faculty and students who are drawn to its campus.

Lee's vocal ensembles have appeared around the world at venues as varied as Carnegie Hall, the NBC television show “Sing Off,” and St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The groups present choral masterworks, pop and gospel music, and standard classical literature, performing composers ranging from Duruflé to Bach to John Rutter.

In addition to North American touring, Lee’s choirs perform extensively throughout Europe and Asia and are scheduled to tour Indonesia and China this summer.

The inaugural performance can be viewed from the live stream on www.inaugural.senate.gov.