Gettysburg, Pa. (April 9, 2025) – The Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College is proud to welcome the internationally acclaimed American Spiritual Ensemble (ASE) for an inspiring residency featuring two powerful concerts that celebrate the rich legacy of American spirituals and classical music.
The residency will include two concerts open to the public. The first concert will take place on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel on Gettysburg College campus and will present a program steeped in the tradition of negro spirituals followed by a workshop and community sing. The second concert will occur on Friday April 18 at 8:00 p.m. at the Majestic Theater and will feature the American Spiritual Ensemble in collaboration with the Sunderman Conservatory Orchestra conducted by Dr. César Leal, with special guests the U.S. Soldiers’ Chorus and Gettysburg College Choir. Together they will present a moving and dynamic program, including Gettysburg Address by Alan Gershwin, Credo by Margaret Bonds, and Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. This is a timely performance of Porgy and Bess as 2025 marks the 100-year anniversary of the source material, Porgy a novel by DuBose Heyward, who went on to write the libretto with Ira Gershwin. For a full list of activities during their residency, click here: ASE Residency Schedule.
The American Spiritual Ensemble is a critically-acclaimed professional group composed of some of the finest singers in the classical music world. The vocalists have thrilled audiences around the world with their dynamic renditions of classic spirituals, jazz, and Broadway numbers that highlight the Black experience. Tenor Dr. Everett McCorvey founded the group in 1995, utilizing a unique blend of accomplished soloists who have sung in theaters and opera houses worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and venues in Italy, Germany, Britain, Scotland, Spain and Japan. The resulting sound of this group is something that choral groups with two or three featured soloists cannot duplicate. The American Spiritual Ensemble has presented diverse concerts throughout the United States, Europe and South America and has toured Spain twelve times presenting more than 100 concerts.
The American Spiritual Ensemble, known for preserving and celebrating the tradition of the negro spiritual, will deliver a performance of depth, passion, and historical resonance. The evening will also highlight the extraordinary artistry of the Sunderman Conservatory Orchestra, the College Choir, and the distinguished U.S. Soldiers’ Chorus.
The U.S. Soldiers’ Chorus is the vocal complement of The United States Army Field Band of Washington, DC. The 24-member mixed choral ensemble travels throughout the nation and abroad, performing in all fifty states, Canada, Mexico, India, the Far East, and throughout Europe, entertaining audiences of all ages. The diverse musical backgrounds of Soldiers’ Chorus personnel provide the ensemble with unique flexibility, and in addition to presenting selections from the vast choral repertoire, each member of the ensemble is an accomplished soloist in their own right. Performances often include the music of Broadway, opera, barbershop quartet, Americana, as well as Pop, Rock, and R&B. Critics have acclaimed recent appearances with the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, and the Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, and National symphony orchestras, giving the chorus a nationwide reputation for musical excellence.
“This is an extraordinary experience of collaboration for the students of the Sunderman Conservatory. These outstanding ensembles will come together to present an exceptional night of music,” observed Dr. César Leal, Director of the Sunderman Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. “We are so excited to present this musical celebration for the benefit of the campus and surrounding community.”
The Wednesday concert and community sing is free and open to the public—no tickets are required. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. concert. Christ Chapel is located at 325 North Washington Street, Gettysburg. Admission to the Friday concert is $5.00 for adults and free for children 18 and under, and free for those with a College ID. Tickets for the Friday concert may be purchased at the Majestic Box Office on the evening of the concert or in advance by visiting www.gettysburgmajestic.org, calling 717-337-8200, or in-person during Box Office hours. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 8:00 p.m. The Majestic Theater is located at 25 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg.
The Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College devotes itself to the development of the art of music in the lives of the campus and broader community by blending excellent, comprehensive musical training with Gettysburg College’s strengths as one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. The Sunderman Chamber Music Foundation was established at Gettysburg College in 1983 by F. William Sunderman for the purpose of building community through great music. The foundation fully funds several concerts each year open to the public.