As part of a weekend-long series of events in honor of Black History Month, Penn State choral groups will perform African-American spirituals.

"This concert is always an enjoyable experience," Oriana Singers President Regina Heineman (senior-microbiology) said. "The music is always so wonderful. We are pleased to be a part of such a great celebration."

The African-American Spirituals Concert has been organized by University Choir professor Anthony Leach for the past 12 years, said Jamey Kelley (graduate-conducting), assistant conductor of the Concert Choir and Essence of Joy member. "This is the only concert that features one medium in its totality," Kelley said.

Essence of Joy and guest vocalists will end the three-day scheduled performances at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Concert Choir member Meredith Mecum (junior-musical arts) said most concerts draw from different musical styles and periods, without emphasizing any particular genre. However, the performances this weekend will focus on a particular genre of African-American culture and music.

"It really stretches our bounds and challenges us as singers to perform spirituals, because they require a different type of tone quality and inflection," Heineman said.

Christie McKinney (junior-music education) offered a definition for those who aren't familiar with what exactly a spiritual is. "I would say that a spiritual has a religious connotation," she said. "[It is] coming from the African-American tradition and can be traced to the time of slavery and hardship."

The Oriana Singers, which references the poetic name of Queen Elizabeth, invoking power and beauty, has performed for the show on and off for the past several years, Heineman said. The all-female choir will sing the uplifting "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and another spiritual piece titled "Hold On."

The Concert Choir will perform African-American composer and vocalist William Dawson's "In His Care-O" and "There is a Balm in Gilead." The Concert Choir is an auditioned choir composed of both undergraduate and graduate students of all majors.

Other scheduled performances include free performances by the choirs of East Stroudsburg North, Roxbury and Central Mountain high schools at 2:30 p.m. today in the Esber Recital Hall and 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.

The concert is designed not only as a learning experience for the audience but for the performers as well. Clinicians, who specialize in spirituals, work with students to ensure the authenticity of the pieces. "We also hope to be able to incorporate some of the feedback [into our performances that] we get from the clinicians we will be working with," Heineman said.

Kelley said rehearsals began at the beginning of the semester, with some ensembles integrating music performed last semester into tonight's program.