Oakdale Community Choir, led by University of Iowa Music Professor Mary Cohen, is the non-profit winner of the 2016 Citizen Diplomat Award from the Council on Visitors to Iowa Cities. The organization was recognized at an awards ceremony on April 19. Since 2009, the Oakdale Choir has brought together incarcerated singers from the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (“Inside Singers”) and outside volunteers (“Outside Singers”) to compose and perform music for incarcerated audiences and outside guests. The choir will present “Lead with Love,” its 18th annual themed concert, inside Oakdale Prison on May 16. Cohen is an associate professor in the School of Music, part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

Since 2009, the Oakdale Choir has brought together incarcerated singers from the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (“Inside Singers”) and outside volunteers (“Outside Singers”) to compose and perform music for incarcerated audiences and outside guests. "Outside" musicians include UI students Ben Ross, Jonathan Wilson, Lauren Carini, Simone Frierson, and Maryanne Kirsh.

The choir will present “Lead with Love,” its 18th annual themed concert, inside Oakdale Prison on May 16.

Cohen is an associate professor of music education with a joint position in the School of Music, part of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the College of Education.