PHOTO GALLERY: Music on the Hill returns to EMU

EMU hosted its second Music on the Hill on Friday, March 20. More than 100 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members turned out at the Discipleship Center atop the EMU Hill to take in eight acts spanning different genres, from live hip hop to the “swingy Appalachian folk pop punk” of The Hot Mamas.

Among those performing at the event were the EMU Theatre Department, the EMU Jazz Combo, Hot Mamas, Sun V Set, Sierra Lambert, Cerulean Valley, Ebro, and Thaddeus Jackson.

Thaddeus Jackson ’24 performs electric guitar at Friday’s Music on the Hill in the Discipleship Center.

Dr. Benjamin Guerrero, assistant professor of music at EMU, plays the melodica (left). Eastern Mennonite Seminary student Makinto performs jazz flute (right).

Student cast members from EMU Theatre’s upcoming production of “The Winter’s Tale: A Musical Adaptation” perform songs from the spring musical. The play comes to the Lee Eshleman Studio Theater from April 9-12. Get your tickets here!

Bryan Joya-Estrada, who portrays the role of Shepherd and plays a mix of instruments in “The Winter’s Tale,” plays keytar (left). Emilee White and Kayden Beidler, who play Florizel and Perdita, respectively, in the musical, sing at Music on the Hill (right).

Faculty, staff, students, and other community members gather at the Discipleship Center to take in the music (left). Jadon Harley plays saxophone (right).

Music on the Hill was organized by Adam Wirdzek, of EMU marketing and communications, in collaboration with Atma Khalsa, of Campus Activities Council. It was funded through a DEI Inclusive Excellence Grant, made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy ’76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler ’79, and the Campus Activities Council.

“This was meant to connect the EMU music scene with the Harrisonburg and broader Virginia music scenes,” Wirdzek said. “It brought people together and put EMU on the map even more as a place where people could come and gather in community.”

He said he’s always looking for opening acts, and plans to schedule a third Music on the Hill event in early October. Those interested in performing can contact Wirdzek at adam.wirdzek@emu.edu.