About  the Choir

Organized in August, 1999, Essence 2  was created by and is conducted by Dr. Anthony Leach as an outreach opportunity for persons interested in performing sacred and secular music from the African and African American tradition.  Essence of Joy, a choral organization in the Penn State School of Music, serves as inspiration for the interchange of campus and community participants.
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HISTORY
2016 found the choir once again singing for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in July; our upcoming December concert follows a November road trip to sing with the Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh.  The choir is about 85 members strong.  

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The 2012 season included several wonderful singing opportunities. We once again were able to join the congregation of Good Shepherd Catholic Church for their Saturday evening mass, where we helped lead the service music as well as sing several of our repertoire for our season.  On December 7, the congregation of Mount Nittany United Methodist Church welcomed us to their church for supper and a full house concert.  Then on Saturday December 15, E2 members who could travel to Washington DC joined with members of Essence of Joy Alumni Singers and choir members from Dr. Leach's church, New Bethel Baptist Church for a splendid rendition of Glenn Burleigh's Born to Die Christmas Cantata.  A fine musical season!
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July 2012  *Christmas in July!  What a blessing of sound as Essence 2 and Essence of Joy reprised their Winterfest concert at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on July 13, 2012.

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December 2011  *We have just finished a wonderful 2011 season with a wonderful benefit concert for WPSU, Winterfest!! Congratulations to everyone who participated and thank you to all who attended our concerts!

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