Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival

The Shenandoah Valley is home to an abundance of extraordinarily talented musicians, many of whom will take the stage for the 28th annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, to be held in Harrisonburg June 14-21, 2020. Among the local talent taking the stage are a Grammy winner, international competition winners, and professors at prestigious music schools. The centerpiece of this year’s Festival is Ein deutsches Requiem of Johannes Brahms, featuring soprano Susan Gouthro and baritone Kevin McMillan, a James Madison University professor and winner of a Grammy award, a Gramophone award, and numerous Juno award nominations. Another JMU professor and winner of the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition, Sam Suggs will perform his recently composed Concerto after Haydn with the Festival Orchestra. As always, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach will be well represented, including an all-Bach opening concert featuring Eastern Mennonite University alum, harpsichordist, and University of Michigan professor Joseph Gascho performing Bach’s Italian Concerto. The Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival is a weeklong event devoted to promoting an appreciation and understanding of the music of Bach and an additional featured composer, country, era, people, or concept. Concerts take place on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University and at Asbury United Methodist Church in downtown Harrisonburg. Three featured concerts with orchestra, soloists, and choir; six chamber music concerts; a Leipzig Service; and open rehearsals infuse the Valley with unequaled musical richness. The Festival, widely recognized for its artistic excellence, has been named the “jewel in Harrisonburg’s crown” by the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

FESTIVAL CONCERTS 1, 2 & 3 Location: Lehman Auditorium, EMU Campus Tickets: $28 – Adults, $24 – Seniors (65+), $15 Youth (22 & under) Multi-concert discounts and group rates available. All tickets $2 higher at the door. Purchase at www.svbachfestival.org or call the EMU Box Office (540) 432-4582

Festival Concert 1 – Sunday, June 14 at 3:00pm This opening concert features Artistic Director Kenneth Nafziger leading the Festival Orchestra and soloists in an all-Bach concert. Soprano Susan Gouthro is featured in Bach’s Cantata 52, Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht. Harpsichordist Joseph Gascho will perform Bach’s Italian Concerto. Members of the orchestra are featured in Bach’s Suite for Orchestra No. 1 and Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. A pre-concert talk by Artistic Director Kenneth Nafziger and soloist Joseph Gascho begins at 2:15pm. Festival Concert 2 – Friday, June 19 at 7:30pm This concert highlights some of the Shenandoah Valley’s brightest stars. Eastern Mennonite University professor David Berry will perform the Schubert/Liszt Wanderer Fantasy, James Madison University professor Sam Suggs will perform his own double bass concert, and SVBF Principal Trombonist Jay Crone from Virginia Tech will perform a concerto by Nino Rota. Rounding out the program is a new composition by Gwyneth Walker, Earth and Sky, performed by Musica Harmonia. A pre-concert talk by Artistic Director Kenneth Nafziger and soloist Sam Suggs begins at 6:45pm. Festival Concert 3 – Saturday, June 20 at 7:30pm The centerpiece of this year’s Festival is Ein deutsches Requiem of Johannes Brahms, featuring the Festival Choir, Festival Orchestra, soprano Susan Gouthro, and Grammy winning baritone Kevin McMillan. This concert opens with an intimate performance of Benjamin Britten’s Lachrymae, featuring violist Amadi Azikiwe. A pre-concert talk by Artistic Director Kenneth Nafziger and soloist Amadi Azikiwe begins at 6:45pm.

LEIPZIG SERVICE Location: Lehman Auditorium, EMU Campus Free Concert (freewill offerings welcome, no tickets required) Sunday, June 21 at 10:00am NOON CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES Location: Asbury United Methodist Church, downtown Harrisonburg Free Concert ($5 suggested donation) Monday, June 15 – Saturday, June 20, noon

The 28th season concludes with the cherished Leipzig Service, modeled on services during Bach’s years as a church musician in Leipzig, Germany during the Baroque era. This distinctive event features Artistic Director Kenneth Nafziger leading the Festival Orchestra and Choir in Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantata, Nun danket alle Gott, BWV 192. Ed Stoltzfus will deliver the homily and organist Marvin Mills will also perform. Festival musicians present free noon chamber music concerts Monday through Saturday featuring a diverse selection of works for small ensembles. A full list of artists and repertoire is available at www.svbachfestival.org.

BAROQUE ACADEMY FACULTY CONCERT Location: Asbury United Methodist Church, downtown Harrisonburg Tickets: $28 – Adults, $24 – Seniors (65+), $15 Youth (22 & under) Multi-concert discounts and group rates available. All tickets $2 higher at the door. Purchase at www.svbachfestival.org or call the EMU Box Office (540) 432-4582

Thursday, June 18 at 7:30pm – Baroque Academy Faculty Concert, “Bach and His World” Take a journey through Bach’s musical world with internationally renowned faculty members of the Virginia Baroque Academy. This program juxtaposes Bach’s harmonious chorale tunes with other Baroque works that feature Italian violin virtuosity, French dance rhythms, English love songs, and German counterpoint. Come and hear music by Arcangelo Corelli, Thomas Arne, Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, and J. S. Bach.