James Richardson Archives

EMU’s original rock musical ‘U2 Romeo & Juliet’ is a gritty, rapturous tale of love in chaos

October 2, 2021Last updated March 15, 2022 by Florence Barrett

Editor’s Note 12/20/2021: This production earned multiple awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival: Certificates of Merit for co-creators Justin Poole and Jerry Holsopple and fight choreographer Wolf

Voice professor-turned-sleuth to sing ‘lost’ music of Armstrong Gibbs

February 18, 2021Last updated February 22, 2021 by Randi B. Hagi

Professor James Richardson, who teaches voice at Eastern Mennonite University, will present his lecture recital, featuring as-of-yet unpublished songs of the late British composer Armstrong Gibbs, on Feb. 19 at

Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster David Kim visits EMU for virtual ‘Masterclass plus’

January 3, 2021Last updated January 4, 2021 by Lauren Jefferson

Even with 14 years of experience and several masterclass sessions in her past, senior music performance major Eve Yavny was a little nervous as she put bow to strings and

DN-R: Virtual Gala crosses genres in uplifting message of hope

November 23, 2020Last updated November 24, 2020 by Kathleen Shaw/Daily News-Record

Did you miss it? View the Gala. This article by Kathleen Shaw appeared in the Nov. 22, 2020, Daily News-Record. Dressed in a traditional black gown with hair neatly curled

EMU’s Gala Concert to offer evening of hope, inspiration and musical eclectica

November 18, 2020Last updated November 23, 2020 by Lauren Jefferson and Randi B. Hagi

David Berry, chair of Eastern Mennonite University’s music department, makes no secret of the vision behind the university’s upcoming made-for-broadcast special premiere of the annual Gala Concert. Always the highlight

Kiara Kiah takes third, on to national singing competition

April 3, 2020Last updated April 9, 2020 by Randi B. Hagi

Eastern Mennonite University soprano Kiara Kiah recently placed third in her division at the 2020 Mid-Atlantic Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) audition – she now advances on

EMU vocalist studies opera in Berlin masterclass

February 28, 2020Last updated March 2, 2020 by Randi B. Hagi

Berlin has been one of Europe’s musical centers for hundreds of years. Members of the Bach family composed there, Shoenberg lived and taught there, and the city boasts an orchestra

Students pilgrimage to local enslaved graveyard

November 26, 2019Last updated August 25, 2020 by Randi B. Hagi

On a sunny day in September, 64 students from Eastern Mennonite University stood in a graveyard, listening to the names of people who may be buried there. Cream violets blanketed

Opera star and EMU ensembles soar at 2019 gala concert

November 18, 2019Last updated November 22, 2019 by Lauren Jefferson with photos by Macson McGuigan

“Simply magical,” says Professor David Berry in recollection of last weekend’s Gala concert at Eastern Mennonite University. “It is rarer than rare to have a consummate artist who has graced

‘Phantom’ on Broadway and Met opera star Janinah Burnett to perform at EMU’s annual Gala Concert

October 21, 2019Last updated October 14, 2020 by Lauren Jefferson

Eastern Mennonite University’s Gala Concert has always been a musical tour de force, involving all ensembles on campus and often bringing in special guests. But the 2019 event will no

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