Arreon A. Harley-Emerson
- Assistant Professor, Choral Music
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Musics from the African and Black Diasporas
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Music Education
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Arts Management and Fundraising
104 Music Building I
- Email arreon@equitysings.com
- Pronouns He/Him/His
Biography
Dr. Arreon A. Harley-Emerson is a conductor, composer, nonprofit strategist, and equity coach, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Pennsylvania State University, where he directs Essence of Joy, a choir dedicated to music of the Black Diaspora. He is also the President and CEO of Equity Sings and the Artistic Director of Elevate Vocal Arts (EVA), an organization committed to advancing creative workforce development for vocal artists across backgrounds and traditions.
Dr. 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 earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Music Theory & Composition and Vocal Performance from Goucher College, and master's degrees in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from the University of Delaware.
A passionate arts leader, he has conducted in prestigious venues such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Kimmel Center, and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. His research has been featured in The Oxford Handbook for Choral Pedagogy, and his TEDx Talk, “The Gang Mentality of Choirs,” explores music’s transformative power. He is the founder of Bent But Not Broken, a conference celebrating Black choral excellence, and serves as National Chair of the American Choral Directors Association’s Diversity Initiatives Committee.