Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday will be celebrated with the empowering and soulful sounds of gospel voices echoing across campus.

Student gospel choir Essence of Joy will honor the life and work of the father of the civil rights movement with today's vocal tribute to the legacy of King in Pattee Library and Eisenhower Auditorium.

"The group sings secular and sacred music from the African-American tradition," said Heather Solimini, a member of the University Park Libraries Employee Association, which is sponsoring the event.

"Essence of Joy performs a lot of African pieces of spiritual and contemporary gospel," said Anthony Leach, Essence of Joy music director. "This music is important because it integrates all aspects of the civil rights movement."

Essence of Joy President Chris Clermont (senior-psychology) said the group will perform such classic and traditional songs as "We Shall Overcome" and "This Little Light of Mine."

"It's not only a celebration and a remembrance," he said. "[Essence of Joy] wants to bring about a cultural understanding and really give something back to the audience."

Clermont, who said he joined the choir to be part of a unique singing group, said the songs "encompass a wide variety of music and focus on some of the issues dealing with Martin Luther King."

"Many of the songs deal with the African-American spirit and the light of hope," he added.

It may be a little out of the ordinary for a choral group to perform in a library, which generally tries to preserve a quiet and study-friendly environment, but Clermont said performances there yield a large turnout.

"The acoustics there are actually very good for singing," he said.

According to a press release, the architecture of the room allows for a deeper sound, like in a cathedral.

Clermont added that he really enjoys performing in that kind of setting.

"It's something new," he said. "People don't expect singing in a library."

The Eisenhower concert will feature soloist Kaitlyn Lusk, a 14-year-old freshman at State College Area High School.

According to her Web site (www.kaitlynlusk.com), Lusk sang with the Boston Pops and performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in their 9/11 tribute.

"Kaitlyn Lusk will sing 'Put a Little Love in Your Heart' with Essence of Joy," Leach said. "She actually recorded a CD with Essence of Joy, which is scheduled for release sometime this year."

Other featured soloists at the Eisenhower show will include Andrew Parise, Sean Lynch, Fran Betlyon and Brent Wilson.

Essence of Joy will perform this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in 105 Pattee Library and at 7 tonight with Lusk in Eisenhower Auditorium.