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2024 CPWC Fall Concert Poster Image

2024 Fall Concert

Pearl Jubilee: 30 Years of Music

About Us

Our Mission Statement: The Central Pennsylvania Womyn's Chorus brings together a diverse group of women, united by the joy of singing, to celebrate and empower women and to affirm a positive image of lesbians and feminists.


Once upon a time...a woman attended the 1993 Gay Pride Festival, and heard the Harrisburg Men's Chorus sing. She was so inspired, she asked to join. Chorus leaders offered to join her in founding a women's chorus... A year later, the Central Pennsylvania Womyn's Chorus debuted at the same Festival.

We strive for musical excellence in a wide range of styles, including classical, folk, jazz, a cappella, chants and rounds, show tunes and popular songs of most decades of the twentieth century, and music recently composed.

Our concerts offer a safe and enjoyable environment for lesbians, feminists, gay men, human rights supporters, lovers of choral music, and our families, friends and neighbors to come together and celebrate our diversity as well as our common goals.

We are a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization and recognized as a charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code: contributions to the chorus are tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Our board, singers, and other volunteers contribute their time, talent and dues. Many members and supporters make an ongoing commitment through a monthly pledge that can be direct-deducted from our checking accounts. Other finances are raised through various fund-raising events throughout the year, including spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfast, and volunteering at concessions stands for events in the state farm show building.

Are you ready to be a part of our song?

We welcome both singing and non-singing members.

Yes, please!

Singers

Soprano 1

  • Theresa Alberici
  • Jody Blouch
  • Laura Dalton
  • Erin Eckert (on leave)
  • Laura Edinger
  • Lucy Glorius
  • Darla Henry
  • Bailey Monroe
  • Tina Monroe
  • Heidi Trecoske
  • Wendi Wright (on leave)
  • Rachel Washic
  • Hilde(gard) Wulf (on leave)

Soprano 2

  • Hannah Belser
  • Rima Cameron
  • Autumn Edwards
  • Tiffany Golobek
  • Nicole Hate
  • Gail Jackson
  • Jennifer King
  • Katie Knorr
  • Bailey Monroe
  • Samantha Patrick (on leave)
  • Laura Shemick
  • Rachel Washic
  • Wendi Wright (on leave)

Alto 1

  • Marie Baldys
  • Andrea Dundore
  • Lex Finley
  • Deb Glorius
  • Theresa Hahn
  • Kirsten Jones
  • Melanie Luckenbaugh
  • Florence March
  • Pan Mohan
  • Linda Mussoline
  • Genni Piatt

Alto 2

  • Becca Bowen
  • Rebecca (Becks) Eury
  • Amy Firestine
  • Candace Heyward
  • Amy Sauertieg
  • Peggy Shuff
  • Arleen Shulman
 

A quote from one of our singers:

I wanted to sing and be a part of the Central PA Womyn's Chorus because the mission of the group is to present a positive message through music of lesbian and diverse females.  This message inspires and motivates womyn to be better human beings and brings change to the world which is lasting, necessary and good.  Your music touches the heart and souls of listeners.  Plus I love being in the company with such great people!

Leadership - Board of Directors

  • Laura Edinger, President
  • Laura Shemick, Vice-President
  • Mel Luckenbaugh, Secretary
  • Lucy Glorius, Treasurer

  • Theresa Alberici
  • Becca Bowen
  • Rima Cameron
  • Becks Eury
  • Nicole Hate
  • Darla Henry
  • Arleen Shulman
  • Laura Shemick

 

Leadership - Our Musical Staff

 

Artistic Director, Dr. Kyle Weary

Kyle Weary

Dr. Kyle J. Weary is the Artistic Director of the Central PA Womyn's Chorus, Coordinator of Music Education and visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education at Gettysburg College, and Artistic Director of the Gettysburg Children's Choir. A PhD graduate of Auburn University in vocal music education where his research focused on music literacy skills in secondary choral classrooms, Kyle is recognized as a leader in teaching music literacy and contemporary commercial music. Kyle has been invited to present educational sessions at the State, Regional, and National levels. Kyle's articles on teaching music literacy and vocal pedagogy in the choral rehearsal have appeared in Choral Director Magazine, Maryland Music Educators Journal, and Teaching Music Magazine.

He graduated with both bachelor's and master's degrees from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, VA, where he was awarded the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award for Young Career Achievement. Kyle has twice earned nominations for the GRAMMY music educator award, where he advanced as a quarterfinalist both times. In 2015, Kyle was nominated for Washington County's Teacher of the Year. Kyle was the founder of the Vocal Music program at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown, MD. Vocal majors were selected as members for Maryland All State Junior and Senior choirs, All Eastern Choirs, and All National Choral ensembles. While at Barbara Ingram he was the music director for the all school musicals with annual attendance of over 4,000 patrons for the yearly event. The Barbara Ingram Choral ensembles performed at multiple regional and state conferences, and had their first Carnegie Hall appearance singing under the direction of Eric Whitacre in the premiere of his new opera: “Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings” in 2010.

As guest conductor, Kyle has conducted The Maryland Symphony Orchestra, as well as honor choirs in District XVI All District Middle School Choir (VA), Cumberland County (PA), Prince George's County (MD), Allegany County (MD) Washington County (MD), Vermont (VT-ACDA). Kyle previously served as the Artistic Director of the Harrisburg Gay Men’s Chorus. Prior to coming to Gettysburg College, Kyle most recently was the Director of Choirs and Theatre at Boiling Springs High School and Yellow Breeches Middle School. In addition to his work at Gettysburg College, Kyle is the Director of Music at Silver Spring Presbyterian Church in Mechanicsburg, PA and has served on the graduate faculty at Towson University as an adjunct since 2021.

 

Accompanist, Steven “Max” Mitchell

Leave us a message!

Reach Us Directly

PO Box 60426
Harrisburg, PA 17106-0426
Email us at: cpwc@lucytv.net

Our History

  • Collaborated with the Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women's Network in our spring 2007 concert, Land of Our Dreams
  • Wowed our choral sisters at the Sister Singers Festival in San Diego in 2006 (photo album)
  • Performed for more than 2000 people in Montreal's premiere concert hall as part of the GALA Festival 2004 (photo album)
  • Performed in the state capitol building each December since 2003 for the diversity holiday celebration of the Pennsylvania Immigrant and Refugee Women's Network
  • Performed at Unity Day in October 2003, a celebration of diversity on the occasion of the premiere showing of the documentary Jim in Bold at the State Museum theater
  • Produced United We Sing! in August 2003, a joint concert with the Harrisburg Men's Chorus and the Metropolitan Community Church of the Spirit Gospel Choir
  • Raised more than $1000 for The Mautner Project and The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition at our spring 2002 concerts, Singing for Our Lives.
  • Raised $472 at our fall 2001 benefit concert for the rights of Afghan women (the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan).
  • Performed benefit concerts for:
    • Breast cancer prevention and treatment
    • AIDS programs
    • Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
  • Sung for:
    • Women's studies programs
    • The ordination of the woman pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church
    • The gay and lesbian alumni association of Shippensburg University (Ship)
    • The gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered student association at Ship
    • The 20th anniversary celebrations of the PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV)
    • The 25th anniversary of PCADV
    • The annual women's conference at Bloomsburg University
    • The Pennsmen
    • The Harrisburg Pride Festival
  • Performed with, and as guests of:
    • Anna Crusis Women's Choir in Philadelphia
    • New Wave Singers in Baltimore
    • Diva, as part of Philadelphia's month-long Pride celebration
  • Opened and sang backup for Judy Collins at her Christmas 2000 concert, with the Harrisburg Men's Chorus
  • Performed the world premiere of Song of the Dying Amazon, a piece commissioned for us by a member of the chorus and conducted by the composer
  • Produced numerous full-length concerts, introducing audiences to songs by and about strong women, and a variety of music intended to inspire, soothe, amuse, and heal.

Our Previous Concerts and Other Performances

We have performed at many different concerts and smaller events. The following is a list of our concerts, with links to view the concert program (when available). You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files.

  • 2024
    Sat. June 1, 2024 at 7:00 pm
    22 South 6th Street, Lebanon, PA 17042
    Sun. June 2, 2024 at 2:00 pm
    St. Stephen's Episcopal, Harrisburg
  • 2023

    Fall concert

    Sat. Nov. 18, 2023
    Harrisburg (Unitarian Church of Harrisburg)
    Sun. Nov. 19, 2023
    Mechanicsburg (St. Paul's United Church of Christ)
  • 2023

    Spring concert

    Sat. May 6, 2023
    Carlisle (St. John's Episcopal Church)
    Sun. May 7, 2023
    Harrisburg (Unitarian Church of Harrisburg)
  • 2022

    Fall concert

    Sat. Nov. 19, 2022
    Harrisburg (Unitarian Church of Harrisburg)
    Sun. Nov. 20, 2022
    Camp Hill (Camp Hill Presbyterian Church)
  • 2022

    Spring concert

    Sun. May 15, 2022
    St. Paul's UCC, Mechanicsburg
  • 2021

    Fall concert

    Sat. Nov. 20, 2021
    Harrisburg (Market Square Presbyterian)
  • 2021

    Spring concert

    Harrisburg
    Sat. May 15, 2021
    Outdoors at Italian Lake
  • 2020

    Fall virtual concert

    Dec. 20, 2020
  • 2019

    Fall concert

    Nov. 23, 2019
    Harrisburg (Market Square Presbyterian)
    Nov. 24, 2019
    Camp Hill Presbyterian
  • 2019

    Spring concert

    May 17, 2019
    Camp Hill Presbyterian
    May 18, 2019
    Harrisburg (Market Square Presbyterian)
    May 19, 2019
    Wesley United Methodist, Bloomsburg
  • 2018

    Fall concert

    Nov. 17, 2018
    Mechanicsburg Presbyterian
    Nov. 18, 2018
    Harrisburg (Colonial Park UCC)
  • 2018

    Summer performance
    Voices United 13

    July 27, 2018
    Harrisburg (Market Square Presbyterian)
  • 2018

    Spring concert

    May 19, 2018
    Mechanicsburg
    May 20, 2018
    Harrisburg (Colonial Park UCC)
  • 2017

    Fall concert

    Nov. 18, 2017
    Mechanicsburg Presbyterian
    Nov. 19, 2017
    Harrisburg (Colonial Park UCC)
  • 2017

    Summer performance
    National Anthem at Harrisburg Senators baseball game

    Aug. 20, 2017
    Harrisburg
  • 2017

    Summer performance
    Voices United 12

    July 28, 2017
    Harrisburg (Market Square Presbyterian)
  • 2017

    Spring performance
    Sharing Our Caring

    June 12, 2017
    Harrisburg
  • 2017

    Spring concert

    June 3, 2017
    Mechanicsburg Presbyterian
    June 4, 2017
    Harrisburg (Colonial Park UCC)
  • 2017

    Spring performance
    National anthem at a Harrisburg Heat soccer game

    Jan. 27, 2017
    Harrisburg
  • 2016

    Fall concert
    Dover UCC Advent Series

    Dec. 4, 2016
    Dover UCC
  • 2016

    Fall concert

    Nov. 19, 2016
    Mechanicsburg Presbyterian
    Nov. 20, 2016
    Harrisburg (Colonial Park UCC)
  • 2016

    Summer performance
    Voices United 11

    Jul. 29, 2016
    Harrisburg (Market Square Presbyterian)
  • 2016

    Summer performance
    GALA Festival 2016

    Jul. 2, 2016
    Denver Performing Arts Center
  • 2016

    Spring concert

    May 21, 2016
    Trindle Spring, Mechanicsburg
    May 22, 2016
    York UU
  • 2015

    Fall concert

    Nov. 21, 2015
    Mechanicsburg
    Nov. 22, 2015
    First Reformed UCC Church in Lancaster
  • 2015

    Summer performance
    Hershey Medical Center Pride Event

    Jul. 22, 2015
    Hershey
  • 2015

    Summer performance
    Voices United 10

    Jul. 24, 2015
    Harrisburg (Market Square Presbyterian)
  • 2015

    Spring performance
    Colonial Park UCC Ice Cream Social

    Jun. 20, 2015
    Harrisburg (Colonial Park UCC)
  • 2015
    May. 30, 2015
    Mechanicsburg Presbyterian
  • 2014
    Nov. 22, 2014
    Enola (Unity Church)
    Nov. 23, 2014
    Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York
  • 2014

    Spring concert

    May 31, 2014
    Enola (Unity Church)
    June 1, 2014
    Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York
  • 2013
    November 16, 2013
    Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
  • 2013
    June 1, 2013
    Harrisburg (Colonial Park UCC)
    June 2, 2013
    Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
  • 2012
    Dec. 1, 2012
  • 2012

    Spring concert

    Jun. 2, 2012
  • 2012

    Spring concert
    Colors of our Lives (Joint Concert with the Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus)

    Feb. 1, 2012
  • 2011

    Spring concert

    Babes on Broadway
    June 4, 2011
  • 2011

    Winter concert

    Jan. 9, 2011
    Unity Church of Harrisburg (Enola)
  • 2010

    Spring concert

    May 22, 2010
    Labyrinth Cafe at Unity Church, Enola
  • 2009

    Fall concert

    Dec. 5, 2009
    Unity Church of Harrisburg (Enola)
  • 2009

    Spring concert
    featuring guest artist 3•12

    June 5, 2009
    Rose Lehrman Art Center, Harrisburg, PA
    June 7, 2009
    Carlisle Theatre
  • 2008

    Fall concert

    Dec. 13, 2008
    Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in York Springs
    Dec. 14, 2008
    Harrisburg's Lakeside Lutheran Church
  • 2008

    Spring concert

    June 8, 2008
    Unity Church of Harrisburg (Enola)
  • 2007
    Nov. 10, 2007
    Rose Lehrman Arts Center, Harrisburg
  • 2007

    Spring concert

    May 5, 2007
    Harrisburg Academy, Wormleysburg
  • 2006

    Spring concert

    May 6, 2006
    Unity Church, Enola
  • 2006

    Fall concert

    Nov. 18, 2006
    Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg
  • 2005

    Fall concert

    Nov. 12, 2005
    Colonial Park UCC, Harrisburg
  • 2005

    Spring concert

    April 23, 2005
    Lancaster UU
    May 14, 2005
    Harrisburg UU
  • 2004
    Dec. 4, 2004
    Unity Church, Enola
  • 2004

    Winter concert

    Feb. 14, 2004
    Faith UCC, New Cumberland
    March 27, 2004
    Lancaster Theological Seminary
  • 2003
    May 10, 2003
    Unity Church, Enola
  • 2002

    Fall concert

    Nov. 23, 2002
    Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, Enola
  • 2002

    Spring concert

    April 27, 2002
    Harrisburg Unitarian Church
    May 4, 2002
    York Unitarian Church
  • 2001
    Dec. 1, 2001
    Harrisburg Unitarian Church
  • 2001

    Spring concert

    June 9, 2001
    Harrisburg Unitarian Church
  • 2000

    Winter concert
    Judy Collins Christmas Concert (Joint Concert with the Harrisburg Men's Chorus)

    Christmas 2000 concert
    Whitaker Center, Harrisburg
  • 1999
    Fall 1999
  • 1999

    Spring concert

    Spring 1999
  • 1998
    Fall 1998
  • 1998
    Spring 1998
  • 1997

    Fall concert
    Featuring Song of the Dying Amazon

    Fall 1997
  • 1997

    Spring concert
    Music Music Music!

    Spring 1997
  • 1996

    Fall concert

    Fall 1996
  • 1995

    Fall concert
    Our First Full Length Concert

    Fall 1995