This past weekend, and the past two years, I've been performing with Dr. Leach's "Essence of Joy," the School of Music choir that specializes in music of the African-American Vocal Tradition. Essence, which is often somewhat mistakenly labeled as a gospel choir, has really transformed my life and introduced me to things I'd never thought about before.
We sang at an elementary school this past weekend, and I learned firsthand how to engage a collection of little kids. Our performances in churches introduced me to how intensely many people hold on to their faith. Dr. Leach's leadership has influenced my daily encounters with other people. And I haven't even started on what I've learned musically.
People think it's odd that I, as an active, dedicated atheist, continue to devote myself wholeheartedly to Essence of Joy. Essence proves the power of musical performance and human interaction. Essence embodies what I can only describe as the human spirit. And, yes, this does often leave me in a bit of an existential limbo: I don't know what this spirit is, whether it's a construct of the mind or the culmination of biological processes or whatever else, but I have become a stronger person from working with this choir, and I've seen many audience members undergo the same transformation.
Dr. Leach's job is about continuous transformations. The music is the medium, but it's not necessarily the end result. He continually tells us that we'll never know what effect we have on others. And I'm gradually discovering he's right.
Dr. Leach has taught me, and the many other students he's taught, about a new level of responsibility and dedication. For me, Essence is a religious experience, too. While I'm not gaining proximity to any belief or deity, I am making connections with other people, powerful bonds that, for those moments of musical performance, are nearly unbreakable. It has strengthened my grasp on humanism, and has made me whole lot happier to be alive.
If you haven't seen Essence (or Essence II or the Alumni Choir) perform, I highly encourage you to do so.
I will be writing more on this choir as I continue my final year here at Penn State. To say Essence of Joy and Dr. Leach had a powerful impact on my life and education would be a terrible understatement, and I am largely indebted to this experience.
We sang at an elementary school this past weekend, and I learned firsthand how to engage a collection of little kids. Our performances in churches introduced me to how intensely many people hold on to their faith. Dr. Leach's leadership has influenced my daily encounters with other people. And I haven't even started on what I've learned musically.
People think it's odd that I, as an active, dedicated atheist, continue to devote myself wholeheartedly to Essence of Joy. Essence proves the power of musical performance and human interaction. Essence embodies what I can only describe as the human spirit. And, yes, this does often leave me in a bit of an existential limbo: I don't know what this spirit is, whether it's a construct of the mind or the culmination of biological processes or whatever else, but I have become a stronger person from working with this choir, and I've seen many audience members undergo the same transformation.
Dr. Leach's job is about continuous transformations. The music is the medium, but it's not necessarily the end result. He continually tells us that we'll never know what effect we have on others. And I'm gradually discovering he's right.
Dr. Leach has taught me, and the many other students he's taught, about a new level of responsibility and dedication. For me, Essence is a religious experience, too. While I'm not gaining proximity to any belief or deity, I am making connections with other people, powerful bonds that, for those moments of musical performance, are nearly unbreakable. It has strengthened my grasp on humanism, and has made me whole lot happier to be alive.
If you haven't seen Essence (or Essence II or the Alumni Choir) perform, I highly encourage you to do so.
I will be writing more on this choir as I continue my final year here at Penn State. To say Essence of Joy and Dr. Leach had a powerful impact on my life and education would be a terrible understatement, and I am largely indebted to this experience.
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