{"id":59506,"date":"2025-08-20T07:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T11:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=59506"},"modified":"2025-08-19T17:57:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T21:57:48","slug":"a-great-community-treasure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2025\/a-great-community-treasure\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018A great community treasure\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival ushers in new era of independence<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EMU\u2019s Lehman Auditorium has surely seen its share of historic firsts over the years, though last week might have marked the first time a memorandum of understanding has ever been signed on its stage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Representatives from EMU and the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival (SVBF) advisory board, along with supporters of the festival, gathered on the auditorium stage on Thursday, Aug. 14, to celebrate the SVBF\u2019s status as an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The event included a ceremonial signing of documents and drew more than two-dozen people.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"highlight highlight-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dnronline.com\/news\/community\/shenandoah-valley-bach-festival-becomes-independent-nonprofit-organization\/article_4fe6455c-fc5d-5c92-beb4-42fd95f448b6.html\">Read the <em>Daily News-Record<\/em>\u2019s coverage of the event<\/a>.<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p>EMU financially sustained the annual summer festival since its start in 1993 until last year. The agreement signed last week outlines the transfer of ownership from the university to Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Inc., which was granted tax-exempt nonprofit status in January 2025 and officially became independent from EMU on July 1. Signers included <strong>Dr. Tynisha Willingham<\/strong>, provost and vice president of academic affairs at EMU, and members of the SVBF executive committee: <strong>Christine Fairfield<\/strong>, chair; <strong>Angela Showalter<\/strong>, vice chair; <strong>Cara Modisett<\/strong>, secretary; and <strong>Fred Kniss<\/strong>, treasurer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thursday\u2019s ceremony provided an opportunity for donors, staff, and stakeholders to mark the momentous occasion and reflect on the history of the 33-year-old festival.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174553\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-005-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59510\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174553\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-005-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174553\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-005-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174553\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-005-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174553\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-005-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174553\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-005-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Following a piano performance of Bach\u2019s <em>Prelude in E major, BWV 854, <\/em>from <em>The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1<\/em>, from <strong>Dr. David Berry<\/strong>, director of the music program at EMU and artistic director of the SVBF, Professor Emeritus <strong>Dr. Kenneth J. Nafziger <\/strong>offered a historical perspective on the founding of the festival.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nafziger, a member of EMU\u2019s music faculty for 39 years before he retired in 2017 and founding conductor and artistic director of the SVBF, shared stories from the festival\u2019s earliest days.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174520\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-015-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59509\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174520\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-015-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174520\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-015-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174520\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-015-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174520\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-015-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174520\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-015-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1992, near the start of the fall semester, he was having a dinner with several EMU friends when they began asking him about his experiences conducting the Lake Chelan Bach Fest in north-central Washington that summer. \u201cI noticed that Joe (former EMU President <strong>Joseph Lapp<\/strong>) was taking notes,\u201d Nafziger shared. \u201cWhen the note-taking stopped, he said, \u2018What would it take to get something like that going here?\u2019 We took him at his word\u2026and in January of 1993, we were given the go-ahead to do a festival in June. With expert help from <strong>Helen (Nafziger)<\/strong>, <strong>Scott Hosfeld<\/strong>, and <strong>Marcia Kauffman<\/strong>, we made the first one happen, and it included vanilla ice cream and hot raspberry sauce at intermission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe beginnings of rehearsals from the second season forward resembled a family reunion,\u201d he continued. \u201cLocal orchestral players, including JMU friends, local singers and relatives from east of the Mississippi and Canada, we grew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174409\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-028-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59508\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174409\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-028-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174409\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-028-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174409\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-028-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174409\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-028-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19174409\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-028-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Willingham spoke about the relationship between EMU and the SVBF. \u201cYou are still a part of the EMU family and the fabric of EMU,\u201d she said. \u201cEMU has three core values\u2014academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith\u2014and the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival exemplifies those core values.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe know that in our public schools, the arts have been the first things that have been cut,\u201d she said, crediting the festival\u2019s \u201cpay-what-you-can\u201d ticket pricing with allowing everyone to experience music, regardless of economic status. \u201cThe Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival is a gift. It\u2019s been a gift to EMU for over 30 years, it\u2019s been a gift to our community for over 30 years, and it\u2019s been a gift to everyone who has stood on this stage.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19175441\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-004-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-59513\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19175441\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-004-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19175441\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-004-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19175441\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-004-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19175441\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-004-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2025\/08\/19175441\/20250814-SVBF-MOU-Signing_MM-004-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Included in the memorandum of understanding is an agreement that Lehman Auditorium and Martin Chapel will continue to serve as venues for SVBF performances for at least the next three years, said <strong>Les Helmuth<\/strong>, interim executive director of the festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat I discovered in this past year of talking with donors, businesses, and people behind the festival is that the breadth and depth of support is this wide,\u201d he said, stretching out his arms. \u201cIt comes from all walks of life, and it\u2019s fabulous. It really is. It\u2019s a great community treasure, and we desperately need to keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler<\/strong>, dean for the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at EMU, delivered the blessing for the event. Other EMU representatives in attendance included Interim President <strong>Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus<\/strong> and <strong>Kirk Shisler<\/strong>, vice president for advancement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The 34th annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival will be held from June 8-13, 2026. Find out more at <a href=\"http:\/\/svbachfestival.org\">svbachfestival.org<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival ushers in new era of independence EMU\u2019s Lehman Auditorium has surely seen its share of historic firsts over the years, though last week might have marked <a href=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2025\/a-great-community-treasure\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"more-link\">... read more <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">about \u2018A great community treasure\u2019<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":302,"featured_media":59507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7931,5624,5583,5861,17562,5183,5623],"tags":[17381,18520,18521,8361,15840,17216,17682,18519],"feature":[17427,17426,17241,17422],"class_list":["post-59506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","category-bach-festival","category-campus-community","category-conferences-and-events","category-digest","category-music","category-special-programs","tag-bach","tag-classical-music","tag-concert-series","tag-ken-nafziger","tag-les-helmuth","tag-music","tag-shenandoah-valley-bach-festival","tag-svbf","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature","feature-news-landing-page-main-feature"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - 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