Elizabethtown College faculty concerts kick off with 'Joyful' blend of baroque and gospel

David Cullen and Anthony Leach lead fall concert series

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Anthony Leach, left, and David Cullen

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (09/13/2011)(readMedia)-- David Cullen and Anthony Leach bring a inspirational; mix of baroque and traditional gospel to the stage Monday, Sept. 26, as the Music Division of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Elizabethtown College opens its fall Faculty Concert Series. Other fall performances include an All-Faculty Concert in honor of the new College president and the Faculty Wind Quintet performing works by Debussy, Klughardt, Ewazen and Haines.

"An Evening of Joyful Music," features David Cullen, on guitar and voice, and Anthony Leach, on piano and voice, as they perform Baroque works by Bach and Vivaldi, along with traditional gospel tunes. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, in the College's Leffler Chapel and Performance Center.

Cullen, Elizabethtown College's artist in residence, has performed classical, jazz and world music with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and on the Windham Hill Guitar Sampler and other Windham Hill compilation CDs. He won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Recording and has been featured on NPR.

Dr. Anthony Leach, professor of music at Pennsylvania State University, is well known in gospel circles in the region and beyond. Choirs under his direction have performed across the United States, as well as in Canada, Europe and South Africa. For two dozen years, Leach has been music director of the Capital Area Music Association in Harrisburg and was accompanist for the United Negro College Fund Choir, in New York, N.Y., and the Howard University Choirs, in Washington, D.C. Presently he is minister of music and the organist at the New Bethel Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. He also serves as music director for Essence 2 and the Essence of Joy Alumni Singers.

As with all faculty concerts at Elizabethtown College, "Joyful Music" is free. Contact: David Cullen at dcullen@ptd.net or Amy Reynolds at reynoldsa@etown.edu or 717-361-1212.

All-Faculty Concert

At the end of the month, Sarah Daughtrey, mezzo-soprano; Debra Ronning, pianist; Justin Badgerow, pianist ; Michael Swanson, actor; the Faculty Wind Quintet and the Faculty Piano Trio present the All-Faculty Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center in honor of the inauguration of Elizabethtown College's new president Dr. Carl J. Strikwerda. The various artists will present solo works and chamber music by Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, Grainger, Horovitz, Ewazen and Duke.

This concert employs the College's new Steinway concert grand piano, donated by the Board of Trustees in honor of outgoing President Ted Long and his wife Betty. The All-Faculty Concert is an annual event; this year the event takes on special significance, and the faculty members are preparing stellar performances in honor of the occasion.

Wind Quintet

In October, Elizabethtown College brings to the Zug Recital Hall stage the Faculty Wind Quintet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24. Paula Nelson, flute; Jill Marchione, oboe; Faith Shiffer, clarinet; Gail Ober, bassoon; and Cheryl Staherski, horn; perform works by Debussy, Klughardt and Ewazen. The concert features the premiere of "Avalon Suite" by Elizabethtown College Professor of Music Dr. James L. Haines. The baroque suite is based on his summer vacations in Avalon, N.J.

Contact: Amy Reynolds at 361-1212 and reynoldsa@etown.edu

Read about additional events at Elizabethtown College.

Elizabethtown College, in southeastern Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Through personal attention, creative inspiration and academic challenge, Elizabethtown College students are encouraged to expand their intellectual curiosity and are given the opportunity to become a bigger part of the world through experiential learning-research, internships and study abroad. Elizabethtown College's overall commitment to Educate for Service is fulfilled as students are taught intellectually, socially, aesthetically and ethically for lives of service and leadership.

Visit www.etown.edu for more information about Elizabethtown College.

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