The Jerusalem Singers was started in May of 1996 by Pete Deshler. The purpose of the group was to create an ensemble that people of different ages and singing experience could gather together to perform quality choral music at a superior level. In 1998, the Jerusalem Singers began collecting canned food for the New Bethany Ministries in Bethlehem, PA as part of our community service efforts. Since 2003, the group has also been performing a benefit concert at the end of every season. For several years, the proceeds from this concert have gone to support Satori’s “Gift of Music” program. The Jerusalem Singers recorded a CD of original music by Pete Deshler, Matthew Hill and John Shilanskas to celebrate our 10th season in 2005. The ensemble recorded a second CD, O Come Ye Servants of the Lord, to celebrate it’s 15th anniversary. This CD features works by Deshler, Shilanskas, Thomas Tallis, Christopher Tye and others. In celebration of our 20th anniversary, the group released a third CD featuring recordings made over the previous twenty years. The Jerusalem Singers continues to perform throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

DIRECTOR’S BIO

Pete Deshler is a composer, music educator, conductor and performer living in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.  Pete’s music often combines folk and Renaissance melodies with contemporary compositional practices.  He has completed commissions for the Lafayette College Concert Band, Allentown Municipal Band, Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem and the Easton Area School District.  Pete has music published by Colla Voce Music, Imagine Music Publishing and ArrangeMe.com.

            Pete began teaching music at Easton Area High School in 1998.  His duties have included conducting the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Camerata, Sophomore Women’s Choir, teaching Honors Music Theory, Honors Music Theory 2, Advanced Placement Music Theory, Voice Lab and instrumental lessons.  He has performed with Lehigh Choral Union, Twin Rivers Choral Society and as a soloist with his wife Marisa.  Pete has also been the director of the Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church Men’s Choir, the Jerusalem Western Salisbury Church Summer Concert Series, the assistant conductor of the Twin Rivers Choral Society and is a founding member of the Wandering Singers.  Pete is the director of the Jerusalem Singers, which he founded in 1996.  He is also a member of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra’s Composer Collective.

Pete earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from West Chester University in 1997 where he performed in the W.C.U. Concert Choir under the direction of both Dr. Donald Nally and Dr. David DeVenney.  Pete earned his Master of Music Education from West Chester University in 2003, where he studied voice under Alan Wagner.  He has privately studied music composition under Dr. Larry Lipkis, Dr. Tae Sakamoto and Dr. Kirk O’Riordan.

petedeshler.com