Cheryl Peach: Biography

Cheryl Peach - Patriotic & Inspirational Singer

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 Peach is an Army veteran.

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 $2,000 college scholarship 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 just about break by seeing the sacrifices they had made so that you and I can live in freedom.”

Cheryl has released four 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. 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 is currently recording a CD in Nashville of gospel standards as well as some brand new gospel songs.

Cheryl Peach performed on Veterans Day, 2007 at the historic Capitol Theatre in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Cheryl was joined on stage by gospel singer Stephen Hill. This marked the beginning of the development of a TV series called the Cheryl Peach Gospel Show on WJAL.

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 at Indiana University Music School 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.

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 to go back to school to become an electrical engineer using the G.I. Bill of Rights to help pay for college. After graduating, Ben worked in high-tech companies. "One of my most rewarding experiences was to be working 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."

In the early 1990s, Ben took courses in television production. Then, he worked on over 200 television broadcasts, produced music videos and TV commercials, and was the originator of the television series on PBS called "Music America Loves".

Ben is the producer and hands-on video editor for a new TV program called the Cheryl Peach Gospel Show on WJAL, serving a 4-state region including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and greater Washington, DC.