Artistic Director: Susan Solomon Beckley

Leading the group since 1995 as Artistic Director for The Harrisburg Singers, Susan Solomon Beckley plays an active role in Harrisburg's musical community. Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from The Catholic University of America. She has studied voice extensively with Kermit Finstad of Gettysburg College, Raymond McGuire of The Catholic University of America, Marlena Malas of The Metropolitan Opera, Fredric Popper of The Metropolitan Opera and The New York City Opera, and Michael Cordovana of The Washington Opera and The Dallas Opera.

Susan has performed for master classes with Adelaide Bishop of The Boston Opera, and with noted soprano, the late Judith Raskin. Susan has also studied and performed at The Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, New York, as well as performing at The Pan American Union, Washington D.C., The South African Embassy, Washington D.C., and the home of the Marriott family in Potomac, Maryland.

Susan has won The Eastern Regional Competition of The National Association of Teachers of Singing, both in the Advanced Division and the Young Professional levels. She has also received the Young Alumni Achievement Award for Professional Development from Gettysburg College. A frequent recitalist and concert artist throughout the area, Susan has served as a soloist for many sacred works, sung leading roles with the Harrisburg Opera Association, Theatre Harrisburg and Music Gettysburg, and has performed as a soloist with the Harrisburg Choral Society. Susan has participated in choral conducting and choral technique seminars with such artists as John Rutter, Alice Parker, and Robert Page.

She is a member of The National Association of Teachers of Singing and The American Choral Directors Association. Susan is currently Director of Music at the historic Paxton Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg. She served on the music faculty for 30 years at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania as Artist Affiliate and as former director of the Bucknell University Choir. Susan's voice students have been accepted into the nation's leading conservatories including Juilliard, Eastman, Indiana, Peabody, Curtis, Westminster, The Hartt School of Music and Boston Conservatory for undergraduate and graduate programs. One of her former students, who also interned with The Harrisburg Singers, Matthew Knickman, now performs with the internationally renowned vocal ensemble, "Chanticleer." With her unique approach to vocal pedagogy, Susan is also in great demand as a teacher at her private studio in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.