Members of Penn State’s Pennharmonics a cappella group will reunite in State College this weekend for an alumni reunion concert celebrating the group’s 25th anniversary. The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in 102 Forum.
The concert’s theme of “This is Your Parents’ A Cappella” aims to bring together family and friends of all ages. Pennharmonics alumni will perform retro pop and rock tunes from the ’60s to ’90s, while guest group Rama Lama will bring a ’50s-style doo wop to the stage. Though many arrangements were originally performed in the mid-to-late ’90s, some of the songs will have a contemporary twist.
“We wanted it to be something that would appeal to a wide range of listeners, as well as something that we’d be proud to have our kids witness,” said Shawn Pearce, who co-founded the Pennharmonics in 1993.
Pennharmonics alumni performing at the group’s 15th anniversary concert in 2008 Photo: Shawn Pearce
The Pennharmonics have received widespread recognition since their founding. The group’s accolades include receiving a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA), as well as the production of several studio albums.
The Pennharmonics hope the reunion concert will serve as an introduction for summer students interested in joining Penn State’s a cappella community this fall. For alumni like Pearce, the group has always served as a home away from home — members have worked hard to make reunions frequent, whatever it takes.
“I and the rest of the planning committee are hopeful that our alumni walk away remembering what drew them to Penns in the first place, why they’ve kept coming back, and especially the feeling that will bring us together again in five years,” Pearce said.
Admission to the concert is free. For those unable to attend, a live stream will be posted here. To learn more about the Pennharmonics and other upcoming events, check out the group’s official website.
