St. Paul’s UCC hosts free concert
The PennWest Clarion Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Stephen Johnson will be performing a free concert at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 47 South Whiteoak St., Kutztown, at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 17.
Previously called the Clarion University Chamber Singers, the group has been renamed the PennWest Clarion Concert Choir since the merger of Clarion, California and Edinboro universities.
Featuring the theme of love and forgiveness, the concert repertoire features choral works from a broad range of musical periods and genres including sacred and secular contemporary choral works, jazz, folk music, popular music, and spirituals.
In addition to the concert at St. Paul’s Church of Christ in Kutztown, this year’s 2023 spring’s tour also includes public performances at the Washington National Cathedral, the Harrisburg Capitol Rotunda, and First Presbyterian Church in Johnstown
Over the past 8 years the PennWest Clarion University ensemble has performed free community concerts and high school assemblies in 37 of Pennsylvania’s counties. In the summer of 2016, the ensemble achieved a significant milestone by taking third place at the International Choral Competition (Eisteddifod) in Llangollen, Wales. While in the United Kingdom they also performed community concerts in London, England, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Denbigh, Wales, Killarney, Ireland, and Dublin, Ireland.
In December 2022, the Concert Choir was again invited to the July 2023 Llangollen Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales. With more than 100 choirs submitting audition recordings, the competition for an invitation was the most rigorous in the 74 year history of the Eisteddfod. The Concert Choir will be competing in the Mixed Choir, and Open Choir competitions.
Each fall the Concert Choir hosts a Benefit Dinner that raises funds for those in need in the Clarion and Venango county communities.
For the March 17 concert at St. Paul’s Church of Christ in Kutztown, enter from the Lambert Alley entrance. All are welcome to the free concert. For more information, call the church at 610-6833393.