American Composers' Choral Festival
René Clausen
The American Composers' Choral Festival began in 2010 and celebrates the music of American composers. We invite a composer biannually to conduct a choir comprised of The Harrisburg Singers, local church choirs, and guest high school choirs. We are thrilled to welcome Mr. René Clausen, retired conductor of the nationally-famous Concordia Choir, as our guest composer and conductor at our next festival, which will be on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM. The concert will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Camp Hill. Tickets will go on sale in March 2026. Read more about Mr. Clausen here.
The Harrisburg Singers were honored to host the following composers at our previous American Composers' Choral Festivals:
2010 - Mr. K. Lee Scott
2012 - Dr. Mack Wilberg
2014 - Dr. Robert Lau
2016 - Mr. Craig Courtney
2018 - Mr. Mark Hayes
2023 - Dr. Mack Wilberg
““I love the intergenerational aspect featuring the inclusion of two fine high school choirs with local church choirs and The Harrisburg Singers. The varied program made it a musical treat for singers and audience alike. This festival speaks highly of the community’s support of the fine arts and the musical excellence of its choral groups.””
““The 2016 American Composers’ Choral Festival was a wonderful event for me... The Harrisburg Singers, in particular, were wonderful to work with. They performed the premiere of “Come Home,” the commissioned anthem I wrote for the concert, and they sang it beautifully.””