Cheryl Peach: Biography

Cheryl Peach - Patriotic & Inspirational Singer

Cheryl Peach hosts a TV program -- the Cheryl Peach Gospel Show seen by millions of television viewers throughout the mid-Atlantic region.  The Cheryl Peach Gospel Show features gospel music and patriotic music performed by your favorite Nashville artists.

The theme of the Cheryl Peach Gospel Show is God, Country, and life in America, featuring performances by Nashville artists including Dolly Parton, Lee Greenwood, Alan Jackson, Josh Turner, Toby Keith, Hank William's, Jr., Charlie Daniels, and of course patriotic & gospel singer Cheryl Peach.   

Cheryl grew up on a farm in Kauffman Station, Pennsylvania in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Robert E. Lee's army once occupied their old farmhouse during the Battle of Gettysburg. Occasionally, Cheryl's family would find Confederate artifacts in the surrounding area. Living on ground that had been consecrated by Americans that gave their last full-measure of devotion instilled in Cheryl a deep feeling of patriotism. Cheryl's family attended a nearby Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, where Cheryl sang every week. “Even though I sang in church choir every week, my first solo was in 3rd grade at Brownsmill Elementary in Kauffman Station,” Cheryl comments. “I played the part of Hiawatha the Indian girl who loved all the animals in the woods.” While attending Greencastle-Antrim High School, Cheryl had the good fortune of studying voice with renowned choir director Richard Beesecker. Under his guidance, Cheryl won numerous awards in statewide competitions thereby establishing herself as an outstanding young singer in Pennsylvania. Cheryl recalls, “Legendary patriotic singer Kate Smith was one of my biggest influences, and Mr. B taught me how to sing long notes with power that are the hallmark of God Bless America.”

Cheryl won a full scholarship to college with her outstanding singing by becoming Miss Talent at a Pennsylvania Junior Miss America Pageant. With the help of this scholarship, Cheryl pursued her studies in voice and drama at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania where she graduated magna cum laude. Cheryl studied classical music with Professor Gary Renzleman. With her great voice and training, Cheryl won an audition to become a lead singer for the Army's official touring ensembles, the US Army Field Band and the Soldier’s Chorus. Cheryl sang live to over 10 million Americans at thousands of our Nation’s most prestigious concert halls, auditoriums, and arenas during nine years of military service. Cheryl earned the rank of Sergeant First Class, sharpshooter status with the M-16 rifle, six medals for distinguished military service, and shared hundreds of keys-to-the-city and awards presented by VIPS and dignitaries to the world-renowned US Army Field Band, as well as to the Soldier's Chorus. Cheryl has also had her own band for many years that has played at support-our-troops events, military clubs, fundraisers, corporate events, churches, and military hospitals. Cheryl explains, “singing Christmas songs for our disabled troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are some of my most memorable performances. Our disabled troops were so appreciative to hear me sing, yet my heart would break seeing the sacrifices they had made so that you and I can live in freedom.”

Cheryl Peach has performed as a featured vocal soloist in concerts with celebrities such as Bob Hope, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Lee Greenwood. Cheryl Peach has performed thousands of times at venues including Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl, Texas State Fair, Disney World, Mormon Tabernacle, Brigham Young University, Liberty University, National Cathedral, as well as nationally televised singing of the National Anthem for the Baltimore Orioles, and Dallas Cowboys. Cheryl Peach also appeared in the television series “Music America Loves” on PBS.

Cheryl has released five CDs. Classical Christmas is a collection of Christmas hymns with traditional choir and organ accompaniment. American Salute has an assortment of popular and patriotic songs. Heartland America was recorded in Nashville with top studio musicians.  "Digital Downloads" is the title of a CD which is only available for download to computers and mobil devices as well as through iTunes. 

God & Country is a collection of hymns and patriotic songs. Plus, God & Country contains three duets with Cheryl Peach and gospel singer Stephen Hill.   Cheryl Peach performed with Stephen Hill on Veterans Day, 2007 at the historic Capitol Theatre in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  

Celebrate holiday season all year long by watching some of your favorite Nashville artists sing Christmas songs on the Internet. Inspirational and patriotic singer Cheryl Peach hosts a television special called the Cheryl Peach Christmas Jubilee. Watch some of your favorite Nashville artists sing Christmas music anytime on the Internet.  Simply click on the tab to your left for “Cheryl’s TV Show” then scroll down until you see the link to this Christmas special.

Benjamin Pietsch - Producer, Arranger, Music Director

Benjamin Pietsch has shared the stage with Frank Sinatra, Roger Miller, Burl Ives, Oak Ridge Boys, Van Cliburn, and Arthur Fiedler. He studied string bass with virtuoso Gary Karr, as well as orchestra studies with Murray Grodner, Aaron Copland, Robert Shaw, and jazz improvization with David Baker. Mr. Pietsch played string bass/bass guitar in the US Armed Forces Bicentennial Band on July 4, 1976 to a crowd of 500,000 Americans in front of Independence Hall. He has also performed on the Mike Douglas Show, and in the TV series "Music America Loves" on PBS. Benjamin Pietsch has been the producer, arranger, and music director for Cheryl Peach since 1978. Mr. Pietsch is also the executive producer and video editor for a TV program called the Cheryl Pietsch Gospel Show.

Ben studied violin at the Salem Conservatory in Winston-Salem, North Carolina when he was just 6 years old. "Although I could read music, I couldn't read the titles to the songs", Ben remembers. He also began writing music at this early age with encouragement from his violin teacher, Mr. J. During junior high school, Ben learned to play string bass, bass guitar, and electric guitar. And he would write music using an old upright piano.

From his study of classical music, Ben was influenced by Bach. Bach, considered to be the father of classical music, wrote sacred music. Playing and singing music in church and at faith gatherings became the foundation for Ben's career as a professional musician.

By the 1980s, Ben was programming MIDI keyboards and drum machines, playing guitars, bass, and vocals for live acts, as well as in recording studios. Ben left the Army Field Band (where he met Cheryl) to go back to school to become an electrical engineer using the G.I. Bill of Rights to help pay for college. Since graduating, Ben has worked in high-tech companies. "One of my most rewarding experiences was to be working on a contract at NASA when the space shuttle returned to space after the Challenger tragedy. Everyone stopped what they were doing to get to a television to watch the space shuttle launch." Ever since the 1980s, Mr. Pietsch has continued his full-time work in high-tech companies, while doing video and music production as a part-time activity. Ben played all of the instruments in the recording studio on three of Cheryl Peach's CDs. And when Ben isn't playing the instruments himself, he is writing arrangements as well as producing recording sessions with some of Nashville's top studio musicians.