About Us

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.

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.

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 501c3 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.

 

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.

     


    I sing because I love music, and I sing with the CPWC because I really believe they are my sisters in song.  We're a support system for each other, and that makes sharing the joy of singing in concerts together even stronger.