Penn State Behrend Choirs to Perform “Songs of Travel”

Sunday, April 14

“Songs of Travel,” a musical map of repertoire drawn from Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, will be the spring performance of the choirs at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

Under the direction of music faculty member Gabrielle Dietrich Ph.D., the choirs will sing traditional Nigerian, Zulu, Korean, Taiwanese and Shaker works along with pieces by Franz Josef Haydn, J.S. Bach, Ralph Vaughan Williams and contemporary composer (and Sweet Honey in the Rock member) Ysaye M. Barnwell.

“Because the Behrend choirs are learning several classical masterworks for their participation in the Singing City event in Pittsburgh the next weekend, I took the opportunity to delve into non-western music for our own concert,” says Dietrich, the college’s director of choral ensembles. “Hopefully this communicates the idea of travel and provides a rich musical and emotional experience for both the audience and the singers.”

“Songs of Travel” will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, at First United Methodist Church of Erie, 707 Sassafras St. Admission is free and open to the public. For additional information, phone 898-6636.