Assistant professor of percussion David Glover leads a practice of the Slippery Rock University Panorama Steel Drum Band in Swope Music Hall on April 10. The band is among the groups that will perform at the third annual Evening of Performance and Praise on April 25.

A group of local performers will take the stage next week to benefit Penn Christian Academy, a Christian school in Penn Township for children in preschool through sixth grade.

The school's third annual Evening of Performance and Praise will be held at 7 p.m. April 25 in the Succop Theater on the campus of Butler County Community College in Butler Township.

The theme for this year's production is "You Raise Me Up."

"The concert is to benefit Penn Christian Academy and to increase awareness in the Butler community of how raising Christian leaders will affect generations to come," said Sue Mekis, concert chairwoman and the school's board secretary.

"We will have a variety of music including tango music for flute, Southern gospel, traditional hymns and drum music with roots in Trinidad," she said.

The Slippery Rock University Panorama Steel Drum Band is among the groups set to perform. Comprised of music majors and nonmusic majors on campus, the ensemble is under the direction of David Glover, assistant professor of percussion. The group will play traditional calypso and soca as well as modern pop styles and student arrangements.

Britney Yauger of Evans City is one of several Penn Christian Academy students who will be performing. The 10-year-old fifth-grade honor student will sing the national anthem during the invocation.

"I love attending this wonderful school where I get a Christ-centered education," said Yauger, who performs the national anthem at local motor sporting events.

Invocation for the event will be offered up by Senior Pastor Dennis Krajacic of Community Alliance Church in Center Township. The master of ceremonies is radio personality Michael Franko. The benediction will be offered up by Pastor Paul Cope of Mars Alliance Church. Paul Munson of Grove City College will speak.

The Penn Christian Academy Children's Choir will sing a short selection of songs and will be joined by the North Main Street church of God Chorale for "He Reigns."

Also scheduled to perform is the The Brotherhood, a men's group that will sing a selection of gospel tunes.

"Singing praise music is what we do, and this is a good cause," said Jerry Rudish of Cabot, one of the Brotherhood.

"There will also be an opportunity for the audience to participate in a singalong as well which will be led by Carol and Randy Raisley, Brad and Amy Schake, and Doreen Young," Mekis said.

The evening will include a desert at intermission and a presentation by Ernest Ruzich. Registration for the school's annual golf outing, set for May 19 at Oakview Golf Course, also will be held in the lobby before, after and during intermission.

As well as raising money for the school, Mekis said the event serves to boost fellowship with local pastors.

"One of the goals of this event is to network and fellowship with area church communities," Mekis said. "We started by inviting three pastors to the first event and this year we've connected with many churches."

The school includes 118 students, with 85 additional students enrolled in preschool. The students draw from a 10-mile radius and from 27 different churches and six school districts," Mekis said.

"We'd just like to bring the community together for an evening of performance and praise," Mekis said. "Penn Christian Academy is a leader in gifted and enrichment programs. Proceeds from this event will go toward operational expenses."

These performers will be featured at the Evening of Performance and Praise, set for next week at the Succop Theater:• Karen Milisincic and Lauren McCarrier, flute duet• Britney Yauger, vocalist• Penn Christian Academy Children's Choir under the Direction of Rachel Creaturo• North Main Street Church of God Chorale• Brad and Amy Schake and Doreen Young, vocal trio• Tim Amerson and Keith Stauffer, Southern gospel duo• Tara Yaney, flutist• Tara Yaney, Rachel Ellenberger and KC Euler, flutists• Slippery Rock University Panorama Steel Drum Band• The Brotherhood singing group