The theme of the 2025 Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival—“Journeys”—was inspired by the young J.S. Bach’s 200-mile walk to hear a great organist play. In modern times, 200 miles is a few hours’ drive, more than enough distance to reach the source or inspiration of some of the music planned for this year’s festival. 

Violinist Amy Glick first played with the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival in 1992 as an undergraduate student in college. Since then, she has returned to play with the orchestra year after year, most recently as the Orchestra Concertmaster!

We are thrilled to have renowned classical banjoist, John Bullard, join us as a performer in our upcoming Spring Salon Concert on April 19, 2025! Keep reading to find out what inspired him to play the banjo, his favorite piece to play, and what music he listens to in his free time.

“I grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, in Harrisonburg, and so the mountains and the farmland were the landscape of my childhood – and the landscape of my early years in music as well…”

One of the main reasons I chose to study at Eastern Mennonite University was to study and work with Ken Nafziger (founding director of SVBF)… At the time, I was not familiar with the Bach Festival, but quickly came to see how valuable it was in this community, and what a rich opportunity it was to observe as a young conductor at that time.

The Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival has named Daniel Myssyk as its principal conductor.

We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a $12,000 grant by the National Endowment for the Arts!

“In 2006—I know it was 2006 because it was a World Cup year and the games started the same week as the Bach festival rehearsals—the first weekend’s concert was the Mass in B-Minor, with a 20-voice choir of invited singers. The invitations were to my dad’s list of top people who had ever sung in the EMU Chamber Singers with him, and in the first draft, I wasn’t on it. Fair! But still disappointing.”

Every Bach Festival Sunday morning Leipzig Service starts with this blessing of the gathered group: 

Dominus vobiscum. (The Lord be with you.)

We’re honored to introduce the EMU/SVBF Gala Concert: ARISE! guest artists, Izaiah Montaque Harris and Tina Hashemi!

This year marks one decade of my involvement with the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival in some form or fashion, whether it has been working behind the scenes, singing in the choir, or both. A fact that—as I was writing this—became even more impressive to me when I realized that time accounts for almost a third of my life…

Dr. Benjamin Bergey and Dr. Kyle Remnant share a few thoughts about the music in the upcoming Gala Concert and the greater meaning behind it.

I still remember my first time at the symphony as a young child. As I stepped into the hall, little did I know that what I would hear would be a seminal milestone and lifelong inspiration in my own journey with music…

“The hills are alive with the sound of baroque music this week for a unique festival created exactly 30 years ago…”

David Berry shares his thoughts on how improvisation informed his work in the practice room at Juilliard and his teaching at EMU.

SVBF joins EMU’s Safe Space and Office of EDI in celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with a special performance by GRAMMY-winning cellist Andrew Yee (they/them).

Sian Ricketts shares how she fell in love with Hildegard’s music and began her journey as a medieval music specialist in the 21st c.

Our new Executive Director, Amanda Gookin, was featured in today’s Daily News Record. and highlights her plans for the 29th Annual Bach Festival and beyond.