Monday, April 26, 1999

Center Daily Times Article

STATE COLLEGE -- Penn State's Singing Lions held its last concert for the season at Mount Nittany Middle School on Sunday, and the performance could wind up being the last ever for the 14-year-old group.

The group's producer and director, Peter Kiefer, has an-nounced that he is retiring and the university's music department has not hired a replacement yet.

During Sunday's performance, which brought together alumni members and current members, the group showed its appreciation for Kiefer and his guidance.

Members also made a plea to the audience of about 200: "Please do not let the music die."

One of the performers asked each of the audience members to call the university music department and ask it to keep the Singing Lions singing.

"This could be our last performance ever," Jessica Shelley, the group's vice president, said after her sassy performance of Stephen Sondheim's "Sooner or Later."

"Pete has taught us professionalism," Shelley said. "He has been a father to everyone here. He taught us his craft the best way he knows how."

During Sunday's performance, Kiefer mentioned how much he will miss the group.

"To say it has been a very gratifying experience is a vast understatement," he said. "It has been a wonderful time for me -- and the relationships with all the students I will cherish forever."

Kiefer remains optimistic that the group will go on. "I feel certain the program will continue to be a source of Penn State's proud, professional entertainment," he said.

© 1999 Centre Daily Times

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