Essence of Joy
I sang as a member of Essence of Joy (EOJ) during each semester I spent at Penn State (7 semesters). Under the direction of Dr. Anthony Leach, Essence of Joy sings sacred and secular music from the African and African American choral traditions.
Being a member of Essence of Joy has shaped my musical, personal, and professional growth in countless ways, and I am so fortunate to have spent 7 semesters in the choir. I received the Essence of Joy Alumni Singers (EOJAS) Scholarship Award in Spring 2012. This scholarship is given to one member of the choir every year based on a personal statement about Essence of Joy's impact on his or her life. I also served as the EOJ Librarian for 2 years.
Essence of Joy presents four on-campus concerts every year and travels throughout the state of Pennsylvania and beyond. I was fortunate to perform with Essence of Joy throughout the northeastern United States, Chicago (at the 2011 National ACDA Convention), Spain, and France.
Being a member of Essence of Joy has shaped my musical, personal, and professional growth in countless ways, and I am so fortunate to have spent 7 semesters in the choir. I received the Essence of Joy Alumni Singers (EOJAS) Scholarship Award in Spring 2012. This scholarship is given to one member of the choir every year based on a personal statement about Essence of Joy's impact on his or her life. I also served as the EOJ Librarian for 2 years.
Essence of Joy presents four on-campus concerts every year and travels throughout the state of Pennsylvania and beyond. I was fortunate to perform with Essence of Joy throughout the northeastern United States, Chicago (at the 2011 National ACDA Convention), Spain, and France.
In addition to singing in the choir, I accompanied several pieces on violin. Most notably, I played as part of a string quartet during Essence of Joy's world premiere performance of "The Essence of Christmas," composed by Raymond Wise. This performance was broadcast live on WPSU as part of Winterfest 2013.
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At the left are pictures from EOJ's 2013 trip to Spain and France. Enjoy! |