University Park, Pa. -- Essence of Joy, under the direction of 2009-10 Penn State Laureate Anthony Leach, will present several events in January at the University Park campus in celebration of African-American musical traditions and the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday:
Friday, Jan. 15 -- Penn State Forum Luncheon: “M.L. King Holiday -- A Choral Reflection,” 11:30 a.m., Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel (information about luncheon tickets is available here); and the 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, sponsored by the Penn State Forum on Black Affairs, 6:30 p.m., Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, University Park, Pa.
Saturday, Jan. 16 -- Penn State Kwanzaa Celebration, 6 p.m., Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center, University Park, Pa.
Wednesday, Jan. 20 -- Penn State Martin Luther King Celebration, 6 p.m. (tickets required), Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park, Pa.
In addition, Leach and Essence of Joy will hold a choral workshop followed by a concert on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Penn State Schuylkill campus in Schuylkill Haven. The workshop will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. and requires reservations; the 7:30 p.m. concert is a ticketed event. On Sunday, Jan. 24, the choir will participate in a worship service on the campus. E-mail pts11@psu.edu for more information.
Finally, on Sunday, Jan. 31, Essence of Joy will sing twice in Centre County churches and hold a choral workshop in between. Bellefonte's Faith United Methodist Church will host the choir at 10:45 a.m. followed by a 2 p.m. choral workshop. Zion Community Church of Zion, Pa., will welcome the choir at 6 p.m.