The Pennsic Choir has a decades-long tradition of performing medieval and renaissance choral music at the Pennsic War. In recent years it has expanded into four Pennsic Choirs, each with its own director. Directorship changes each year.
The choirs perform a joint concert on Thursday of War Week in the Performing Arts Tent. Warmup is at 6:00 pm at the European Dance Tent; the performances begin at approximately 6:30 pm in the following order: Children’s Choir, Youth Choir, Chorulus Pennsicus, Pennsic Choir.
Most rehearsals take place in the Performing Arts Rehearsal & Class Tent (PARC), sectional rehearsals may be scheduled elsewhere.
For detailed information on all four Pennsic Choirs, including directors’ contact information as well as downloadable sheet music and audio files for practicing, visit the Known World Choir Website.
The Pennsic Known World Choir is an open choir for anyone able to attend a 2-hour daily rehearsal and sing moderately complex choral music.
- There is no audition, and participants do not need to know how to sight-sing.
- If you would like to sing with the Pennsic Choir, please Pre-Register on the Known World Choir Website. Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated since it helps the director to plan.
- Rehearsals: 10AM-Noon from Thursday of Peace Week through Wednesday of War Week at the Performing Arts Rehearsal Tent, or PARC. Dress Rehearsal is on Thursday of War Week and the Concert is that evening at the Performing Arts Tent.
Chorulus Pennsicus is an audition-based choir of 8-20 voices, which performs more complex and challenging music than the full Pennsic Choir.
- To participate, you must audition for the director, which can be done via audio/video or in person at Pennsic. See the Known World Choir Website for more information.
- Unlike the other three choirs, Chorulus Pennsicus rehearses in a private camp on the Serengeti.
- Rehearsals: Rehearsals: 4:00 – 5:30 pm from Middle Saturday through Wednesday of War Week. Dress Rehearsal is on Thursday of War Week and the Concert is that evening.
The Pennsic Youth Choir is an open choir for children ages 12-19 who can attend a one-hour daily rehearsal. The Youth Choir performs rounds and part-songs in 2 or 3 parts.
- Rehearsals will begin on Middle Saturday and go through Wednesday of War Week at the Performing Arts Rehearsal Tent, or PARC. Dress Rehearsal is on Thursday of War Week and the Concert is that evening.
The Pennsic Children’s Choir is an open choir for children under age 12 who can focus for a one-hour daily rehearsal. The Children’s Choir performs rounds and other songs in 1 (and possibly 2) parts.
- A parent or other responsible adult (not including the choir director) must attend rehearsals with their children.
- Rehearsals begin on Sunday of War Week and go through Wednesday of War Week at the Performing Arts Rehearsal Tent, or PARC. Dress Rehearsal is on Thursday of War Week and the Concert is that evening.