Harmony Collected

Harmony Collected is a come one, come all community choir here in Indianapolis — a group of everyday folks who love to sing and gather every week to make music, learn from each other, and build something that feels like home. There's no audition and no pressure. Whether you sang your heart out in high school choir or you just belt it out in the car with the windows up, there's a spot for you here.

Open Circle Arts (formerly the Irvington Arts Collective) is a community arts nonprofit rooted in the Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis. We create spaces where people make art together — not as performers and audience, but as neighbors and collaborators. Harmony Collected is one of the ways we do that. Everything comes back to a few simple ideas: that art is for everybody, that showing up as your full self is welcome here, and that we're better when we make things with each other rather than for each other.

Nope! No audition, ever. Just come as you are and start singing with us. All are welcome.

None at all. Really! Some of our singers are stepping into a choir for the very first time. Others have music degrees. Most folks land somewhere in between. Every single experience level is welcome, and you'll be singing right alongside people who were once exactly where you are.

First off, take a breath. You belong here. Just about everyone feels a flutter of nerves walking into a new group, and we completely get it. Harmony Collected isn't about being the best singer in the room — it's about singing together and having a good time doing it. Come stand with us, follow along, and let the group carry you. By the second or third week, those nerves usually melt right into fun.

No worries at all. A lot of people don't know this when they join, and figuring it out is honestly part of the fun. When you come, we'll help you find a comfortable place to start, usually based on whether your voice sits a little higher or a little lower. If it turns out you're happier in a different group down the road, that's totally fine — people switch all the time. Our Artistic Director is always glad to listen and help you land in the right spot.

The easiest way is to just show up — come to a Tuesday rehearsal, say hello, and jump in. If you'd like to let us know you're coming, or ask a question first, you can fill out our quick join form or email info@opencirclearts.org. We'll be genuinely glad to see you.

Absolutely, and we'd love that. You're welcome to come sit in, sing along, and get a feel for the group before you decide anything at all. There's no commitment to showing up and trying it out. Most folks know pretty quickly whether it feels like their kind of place — and we have a hunch it will.

We suggest a $125 donation per season for Harmony Collected singers — but please hear us clearly: that's a suggestion, not a ticket price. If your budget allows you to chip in, we're truly grateful; it helps cover our music, our professional musicians, and the spaces we perform in. If money is tight right now, that's no problem at all — you're welcome to pitch in with your time and talents instead. Nobody, ever, gets turned away because of finances.

We rehearse September through June on Tuesday evenings from 6:30–8:30 PM, at Irvington Presbyterian Church. Come a few minutes early if you can, to introduce yourself.

We'd love to have you there as often as you can make it, and the more you're around, the more fun it is. That said, we know life gets busy. All we ask is that you give our Artistic Director a heads-up when you know you'll miss a rehearsal or a concert, so we can plan around it.

Not much! A water bottle, a pencil for jotting notes on your music, and comfy clothes you can relax in are really all you need. We'll get you set up with the music itself. If you like to keep things tidy, a folder or binder is handy — but don't stress if you forget it.

Not reading music is no problem whatsoever, and plenty of our singers don't. We offer small-group practices where you can learn your part alongside others, take-home practice recordings so you can listen and sing along at home, and one-on-one coaching with our Artistic Director if you'd like a little extra help. You'll pick things up faster than you think.

Nope, we provide the music for you. That's actually part of what your season donation helps pay for, so you can just show up and sing without hunting down sheet music.

Comfort is the name of the game. Every singer gets a black Harmony Collected t-shirt to call their own. For a slightly dressier look at concerts, we ask you to bring a black top you feel good in, and we'll give you a little pin to add to it. The goal is for everyone to look pulled-together while wearing something they actually feel comfortable in.

A little bit of everything! We sing classic choir pieces, pop hits, Broadway showstoppers, folk tunes, and plenty in between. There's a good chance you'll recognize some of it, fall for some new favorites, and have a blast either way.

We'll keep you posted by email with reminders, schedule updates, and anything else you need to know. If you ever feel out of the loop or miss a message, just ask any of us, or email info@opencirclearts.org, and we'll get you sorted.

We want getting to rehearsal to be the easy part. There's parking at Irvington Presbyterian Church, and if you're not sure of the best way in, we're glad to point you to it. If you have any accessibility needs at all — step-free access, comfortable seating, or something else — just let us know ahead of time and we'll make sure you're set. Feel free to email info@opencirclearts.org with any questions before you come.

Nope, we're a secular group. The church is simply a warm, welcoming space that works well for us to sing in. We happily welcome folks of all faiths and of no faith at all. Everybody's voice belongs here.

We know that for a lot of people, buildings like this one carry real pain, and we'd never ask you to just set that aside. Your caution makes complete sense. Here's what we can tell you: Irvington Presbyterian Church is an openly welcoming and affirming congregation, and they fully support the mission of Open Circle Arts and Harmony Collected. IPC's senior pastor is part of the LGBTQ community, as are several members of the IPC staff. They will never try to convert you, preach at you, or ask you to believe anything to be here. You are welcome exactly as you are, and nothing is expected of you but to sing.

If it would help, you're welcome to reach out before you come, or to just show up and see the space for yourself, at whatever pace feels right. And if anything ever feels off while you're with us, we want to know. Your comfort in this space is ours to look after, not just to promise.