The Indiana Community Choir provides individuals in the Indiana region the opportunity to sing and perform great choral literature not typically accessible to choirs in a rural region.
Interim Director and Conductor
Erin Knepper, interim conductor and current director of choral activities, Punxsutawney Area High School
Accompanist
Acey Gongaware, retired music educator
Cost
$25 tuition per semester plus $25 registration fee: $50 total (only $1.79 per hour of rehearsal).
A limited number of scholarships are available to high school students through their high school choral director. See our scholarships page for details.
Eligibility
Singers who match pitch; music reading ability desirable; age 15 (ninth grade for the upcoming academic year) and older.
Voice Check / Part Placement
Individuals do not need to audition for the Indiana Community Choir. Participating individuals simply sing as part of a section at the first rehearsal (see schedule below). This helps the director get to know each person’s voice and assign a specific voice part. There is nothing to bring or prepare; simply come ready to sing and have fun!
Fall Semester, 2025
Rehearsals
- Mondays, 7:15–9:00 p.m., Sep. 8–Dec. 8, Room 120, Cogswell Hall
- The first rehearsal on September 8 will consist of some “meet the choir” time, reading through a little of the semester’s music, and voice checks by section. The tentative schedule will be:
- 7:15 p.m. - Treble voices meet
- 7:45 p.m. - Full choir meets
- 8:15 p.m. - Bass voices meet
- Unless otherwise announced, all remaining rehearsals will be full choir at 7:15 p.m.
- Note: Erin Knepper will announce whether there will be rehearsal during the mini fall break on Monday, October 20. There will be rehearsal on Monday, November 25.
Concerts
- TBA
- Admission: $5 Regular; $3 Seniors, I-Card, military; children 12 and under free
Repertoire
As an example, listed below is the repertoire for the fall 2025 concert that was performed under the title “A Yuletide Festival.” The fall 2025 repertoire will be announced and listed closer to September and the start of the semester.
- Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming by Vulpius/Praetorius
- What Sweeter Music by John Rutter
- Shepherd’s Pipe Carol by John Rutter
- A Christmas Lullaby by John Rutter
- I Wish You Christmas by John Rutter
- A Yuletide Festival by Philip Gordon
- Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening by Victor Johnson
- The Longest Nights by Timothy Takach - Mvt. I, A Winter’s Spell; Mvt. IV, Blizzard; Mvt. V, Winter Walk
- Sinfonia Sacra (Christmas Cantata) by Daniel Pinkham
Spring Semester, 2026
Rehearsals
NOTE: The Indiana Community Choir MAY become a hybrid ensemble of community members and university students by combining with the IUP University Chorale for the spring semester. If this takes place, rehearsals would shift from Mondays to a late afternoon/early evening time on Tuesdays. Any changes will be announced this fall. For now, though, the following is the schedule.
- Mondays, 7:15–9:15 p.m., Jan. 26–May 11, Room 120, Cogswell Hall
- The director for the spring will announce whether there will be a rehearsal on Monday, March 9, during the IUP spring break.
Concert
- TBA
- Admission: $5 Regular; $3 Seniors, I-Card, military; Children 12 and under free
- Tickets are available at the door one hour prior to the performance; cash and check only.
Repertoire
As an example, listed below is the repertoire for the spring 2025 concert that was performed under the title “Songs of America.” The spring 2026 repertoire will be announced and listed in January 2026 prior to the start of the spring semester.
- At the River by Aaron Copland, arr. R. Wilding White
- Long, Long Ago by Aaron Copland, arr. Irving Fine
- Zion’s Walls by Aaron Copland, arr. Glenn Koponen
- My Lord, What A Mornin’ (Traditional African American Spiritual), arr. Harry T. Burleigh
- Soon-Ah Will Be Done (Traditional African American Spiritual), arr. William L. Dawson
- Comedy Tonight by Stephen Sondheim, arr. Greg Gilpin
- Do I Hear a Waltz? (Medley) by Richard Rogers, arr. John Purifoy
- Not A DAy Goes By... (Medley) by Stephen Sondheim, arr. Robert Page