Essence of Joy, Penn State's 48-member choir "focusing on music in the African-American tradition," has a busy fall planned.

The choir has already performed at four events in and around State College this semester and has another three remaining. But that's not all — Essence of Joy also plans to travel.

On the agenda for this semester are stops in Harrisburg, Bloomsburg, Erie, Phoenixville and New York City. Essence of Joy performs mainly at churches, in keeping with its spiritual traditions, but will be performing at the Schomburg Museum for Research in Black Culture in New York City later in the year, a prospect that has members excited.

Essence of Joy performs African-American spirituals and gospel music. Selections from a recent performance at the Eisenhower Chapel included works by Stanley Thurston, Philip McIntyre, Stephen Hurd, Fylespea Sledge, Robert Morris and Carlton Burgess.

"Essence of Joy has been the best experience I have had since coming to Penn State, not only because of the music, but also because of the religious aspect," said Thomas Bonsaint (senior-international politics). "It's not a religious group exactly, but the music is a religious experience in and of itself," he said.

The choir, which is credit bearing in the School of Music, has been in existence since 1991, when it was organized to sing at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. banquet, sponsored by the Forum on Black Affairs at Penn State. It has since quadrupled in size and last semester the choir performed more than 20 times. As can be seen in their travel schedule, they are gaining prestige outside State College. "That's a lot of fun," Bonsaint said.

Essence of Joy is under the direction of Anthony Leach, assistant professor in the School of Music, who also conducts the University Choir. Essence of Joy produced two compact discs in 1998: The Soul of Essence and The Spirit of Essence. The choir has just released its latest CD, Essence Live!, which is a double recording compilation of pieces from various concerts from April 1998 to October 1999.

Auditions for the choir are held at the beginning of each Fall Semester. Its popularity has spawned the start of a second choir, Essence 2, which will continue in the same tradition as Essence of Joy.

The choir can next be seen at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 14 at Penbrook Church of God in Harrisburg. Their next on-campus appearance will be at 4 p.m. on Oct. 22 at the Penn State School of Music Fall Concert in Recital Hall.