We strive every day to empower our students to express their individuality, and nowhere does that come alive more than in the arts. In addition to our academic programs in the fine arts, we also offer a rich array of events throughout the year, including performances at the George Daily Auditorium.
The William Penn campus is alive with music all year long thanks to the talent and dedication of students and faculty in our instrumental music programs. Our Concert Band, which features both William Penn students and community members, performs traditional and modern band literature. The ensemble performs once each semester and at our graduation ceremony.
Our Jazz Ensemble, which also includes students alongside community musicians, focuses on 20th century jazz, rock, and world music. The group performs during a Spring Tour, Fall Concert, and our annual Night of Jazz each year.
Students in our choral music program, known as the William Penn Singers, add a richness to the culture of our campus through a variety of events and activities throughout the year. Vocalists representing all levels of experience take part in choral music, exploring style periods from madrigals and sacred works to vocal jazz and rock. The William Penn Singers perform at a Fall Concert on campus and travel for a Spring Tour each year, sharing their music with communities near and far.
Our dramatic productions happen multiple times per year, are student-led, and feature students from a wide range of majors and extracurricular interests. You’ll find them performing in venues such as the George Daily Auditorium, Edwin McGrew Fine Arts Center, Musco Technology Center, and Smokey Row Coffee House on the square in Oskaloosa, with Spencer Chapel soon to be added to the list following its completion.
The visual arts are an important part of creative expression at William Penn. Students from a variety of majors explore their artistic interests through courses and projects that include drawing, painting, and design. These opportunities allow students to develop their skills, experiment with new techniques, and grow as artists while contributing to the creative culture of campus.
William Penn’s Show Choir is a dynamic performance ensemble that blends vocal music with choreography, bringing energy, creativity, and stage presence together in a unique performing arts experience. This new program gives students the opportunity to develop their singing, dancing, and performance skills while working as part of a collaborative team. Through rehearsals and live performances, members gain confidence, artistic expression, and the excitement of entertaining audiences both on campus and in the community.