News Release
Essence of Joy, Capital College Choir deliver joyful concert
February 10, 2008
Penn State University Park Student Gospel Choir
University Park’s gospel choir “Essence of Joy” is appropriately named.
One of ten choral ensembles in the University’s School of Music, the organization brought is joyful performance to Penn State Harrisburg’s Capital Union Building Friday, Feb. 6, presenting both sacred and secular music from the African American traditions.
With a variety of selections ranging from church gospels to jazzy, hand-clapping spirituals, Essence of Joy’s appearance “serves various goals of Penn State Harrisburg’s mission – cultural enhancement, intercultural experiences, and outreach to the community,” points out School of Humanities Director Kathryn Robinson.
The highlight of the program came when the Capital College Chorus under the direction of O. David Deitz, joined Essence of Joy for four selections.
Opening with the soulful “I Hear Music in the Air (There Must be a God Somewhere),” the 18 Penn State Harrisburg students then joined in on “Let the Heaven Light Shine on Me” by Moses Hogan, “True Light,” a spiritual combination of “This Little Light of Mine” and a Russian Orthodox chant, and the hand-clapping “Rejoice!.”
And rejoice is what both choirs did throughout the 90-minute concert.
Other selections by Essence of Joy, directed by Dr. Anthony Leach since its inception in 1991, included: “Hear My Prayer,” “Why We Sing,” “Walk Together Children,” “Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name,” “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning,” and “Clap Praise,” which included narration by Maurice Blackmon, who began his University academic studies at Penn State Harrisburg and was an active member of Lion Ambassadors.
Essence of Joy also shared its talents over the weekend with performances at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hummelstown and Frieden’s Lutheran Church in Myerstown.