Dr. Arreon Harley Emerson

Biography

Arreon Harley-Emerson is a conductor, composer, and nonprofit strategist currently serving as Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Pennsylvania State University. He directs Essence of Joy, a choir dedicated to music from the Black Diaspora. As the President and CEO of Equity Sings and Artistic Director of Elevate Vocal Arts (EVA), he is committed to advancing the creative workforce development of vocal artists from various backgrounds and traditions. Harley-Emerson holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, where he also earned a graduate certificate in Diversity in Higher Education. He previously completed dual bachelor’s degrees in Music Theory & Composition and Vocal Performance at Goucher College, along with master's degrees in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from the University of Delaware. An accomplished arts leader, he has conducted in prestigious venues such as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Kimmel Center, with research featured in the Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy. He has delivered a TEDx Talk titled 'The Gang Mentality of Choirs,' highlighting the transformative power of music. Additionally, Harley-Emerson is the founder of Bent and Broken, a conference celebrating Black choral excellence, and serves as the National Chair for the American Choral Directors Association’s Diversity Initiatives Committee.

Research Interests