Penn State School of Music Faculty to Offer Workshop at Lebanon Valley College on Nov. 22

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Dr. Tony Leach will lead workshops on singing African-American spirituals and gospel music in Annville on Saturday, Nov. 22.

ANNVILLE, PA (11/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Lebanon Valley College alumnus Dr. Tony Leach will lead workshops in Annville on Saturday, Nov. 22. Members of local choirs, their directors, and others are invited to participate in the workshops on singing African-American spirituals and gospel music. The workshops will culminate in a concert in LVC's Miller Chapel at the end of the day, which is free and open to the public.

Leach is a professor of music and music education at Penn State University. A native of Washington, D.C., he graduated from Lebanon Valley College and Penn State University before teaching choral music for 14 years in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York. In 1994, he joined the School of Music faculty, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in music education, conducts the University Choir and Essence of Joy. Leach was honored to serve as Penn State Laureate during the 2009-2010 academic year. He is also the conductor of the Essence of Joy Alumni Singers and Essence 2, a community choir in State College, Pa. In addition, he is artist-in-residence at New Bethel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

Choirs under Leach's direction have performed in festivals, competitions, and tours of the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and several countries throughout Europe. He has served as guest conductor for choral festivals and adjudicated choral festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada. Leach holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association, the International Federation of Choral Musicians, Chorus America, the National Association for Music Education, and Gospel Music Workshop of America.

"We've been able to keep costs down for this unique opportunity as a result of several endowments available through the College," noted Paul Fullmer, who serves as chaplain at LVC, "including a grant from the Woomer Endowment, which provides quality diversity programming at the College for the community."

The day begins at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary of Annville United Methodist Church with a workshop by Leach on directing and performing African-American spirituals. At a second workshop at 11:30 a.m., Leach will provide insights for directing and performing traditional and contemporary gospel music.

Following a break for lunch at 1 p.m., Leach will direct community members in a 3 p.m. rehearsal in the sanctuary of Miller Chapel at LVC for a concert to be held that evening. The rehearsal and performance is open to non-workshop choristers free-of-charge, but pre-registration is required.

Dinner will be offered at 5:30 p.m. before a brief rehearsal review at 6:30 p.m. at Miller Chapel. The doors to Miller Chapel open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. concert performance.

A workshop registration fee of $10 covers the cost of all sheet music and other materials. Lunch and dinner tickets are available for $5 each. Complimentary registration and meals are provided for directors of choirs with three or more registered participants. Inquire for CAIU Professional Development credits. For more information, contact Natalia Smith at 717-867-6135 or nsmith@lvc.edu.