Welcome to the Home of the
State College Sacred Harp Singers


The State College Sacred Harp Singers are a group of about 
20 people who have been meeting twice a month for
shape-note singing since October of 2007.

Come and join us for one of our regular singings!

2nd & 4th Mondays of every month
7:00-8:30pm 
University Mennonite Church
1606 Norma Street
State College, PA

Upcoming singings:
   May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9


Come experience shape-note singing, a tradition that’s been vibrant since the days when Kentucky was the frontier!  Join us for a traditional singing from “The Sacred Harp” (1844),
a collection of early American folk hymns and spiritual songs.  This four-part music is sung a capella, and uses shaped notes--diamonds, circles, squares, and triangles--to help singers sight-read their parts. Singers arrange themselves facing inward in a hollow square, singing for each other and not an audience. 

Sacred Harp singings were wildly popular in rural 19th century, sometimes attracting over 1000 singers!  The songs are loud, rhythmic, and full of interesting harmonies.  Many who
have never considered themselves singers have been drawn to this singing tradition, and
have used the shape notes as invaluable aids to sight-read four-part harmony music.
Sacred Harp singings are both social and spiritual events, and are experiencing a huge resurgence of popularity today. Check it out!

Beginners are invited to come at 6:45pm for a brief introduction to shape note singing.
For more information, contact Hal Kunkel at hal.kunkel@gmail.com
For lots more information on shape-note singing go to fasola.org 
For information on the history of the Sacred Harp, go to article on Wikipedia.
To hear recordings from our 2010 Central Pennsylvania 2010 All-Day Sacred Harp Singing, click here.
To hear historic field recordings by Alan Lomax from the 1959 Alabama State Sacred Harp Convention, click here.
Directions to our Local Monday Singings
University Mennonite Church
1606 Norma Street, State College, PA