Essence of Joy is one of ten choral ensembles in the Penn State University School of Music. Organized in November, 1991, the choir performs sacred and secular music from the African/African American traditions. Annual campus events include Fall and Spring concerts, A Celebration of African American Spirituals (February) and Our Gift In Song (December). The choir involves undergraduate and graduate students from many academic programs at Penn State.

Essence has performed throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland as well as New York City, NY, Washington, DC, Naples, FL, Amelia Island, FL, Atlanta, GA, Macomb, MS, Memphis, TN, Richmond, VA, Raleigh/Durham, NC, Charlotte, NC, Columbus, OH, Dayton, OH and Chicago, Illinois. Special musical presentations by Essence have occurred for the following:
  • The James Weldon Johnson Society, Schomburg Museum, New York City
  • Riverside Church Theatre, New York City
  • The National Board of the NAACP
  • Pennsylvania Music Educators Association
  • The Eastern Division of The Music Educators National Conference
  • The Eastern Division of the American Choral Directors Association
  • The American Choral Directors Association National Conventions in Chicago, IL., New York City and Los Angeles, CA
  • Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center
  • The Music Educators National Conference National Convention, Minneapolis, MN

International tours to Kracow, Poland; Prague, Czech Republic (2001) and South Africa (2005) have provided an expanded focus for the choir. We anticipate travel to the Pacific Rim countries as well as other countries in Africa in future years.

The choir has released five compact disc recordings, ‘The Soul of Essence and The Spirit of Essence' which features settings of African American spirituals and traditional and contemporary gospel recorded between 1996 - 1998. ‘Essence Live’ was released in February, 2000 and features campus performances from April, 1998 through October, 1999. ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ and Our Gift in Song are special projects that commemorate the tenth anniversary of the choir and were released in December, 2002.