The Shenandoah University Marching Band kicked off SU’s 150th year in grand fashion with a performance in the London New Year’s Day Parade on Jan. 1. The marching band was joined by members of ... Continue Reading Shenandoah University Marching Band Shines…
NW Works Chimers Continues 30th Anniversary Celebration with December Concert
The Shenandoah Conservatory music therapy program presented its fall 2024 NW Works Chimers concert on Sunday, Dec. 8, in Armstrong Concert Hall. Conservatory students from the music therapy, music ... Continue Reading NW Works Chimers Continues 30th…
Serio ’09 Named One of Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of 2024
Trumpeter, educator and administrator Alexander Serio ’09 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) was named one of Musical America's top 30 professionals of 2024. Serio currently serves as the executive ... Continue Reading Serio ’09 Named One of…
Shenandoah University Marching Band Set To Perform In London’s New Year’s Day Parade Studio Big Band, SU cheerleaders to join the marching band on the international stage
The Shenandoah University Marching Band, alongside members of the Shenandoah Conservatory Studio Big Band and the SU cheerleading squad, is set to travel across the pond and perform in the 2025 London ... Continue Reading Shenandoah University Marching Band Set…
Students Selected for the 2024-2025 Vivian Christy Sansoni Award Scholarship provides tuition assistance to the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy for K-12 students interested in the performing arts
In 2015, the family of Vivian Christy Sansoni created a scholarship to the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy (SCAA) in her memory. Vivian was a youth actress, singer, dancer, and musician and the ... Continue Reading Students Selected for the 2024-2025…
Gary ’25 Lands Lead Role in ‘Pretty Woman: The Musical’ National Tour
Eva Gary ’25 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) will join “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” for the last leg of its U.S. national tour in 2025. Gary will play the lead role of Vivian Ward in the ... Continue Reading Gary ’25 Lands Lead Role…
Musical Theatre Grad Joins ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ on Broadway
Kelsee (Sweigard) Kimmel ’16 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) will return to Broadway as the standby for the role of “Jersey” in the musical “Hell's Kitchen.” Kimmel will replace current ... Continue Reading Musical Theatre Grad Joins ‘Hell’s…
Vaughan ’23 Joins Cast of ‘Floyd Collins’ Musical Theatre Grad Is Part of Production's Original Broadway Cast
Cole Vaughan ’23 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) will be in the original Broadway cast of “Floyd Collins,” in the role of Jewell Estes. The musical is based on the true story of a trapped ... Continue Reading Vaughan ’23 Joins Cast of…
Albums Featuring Conservatory Alumni and Faculty Nominated for 2025 Grammys
At least four albums featuring music performed, recorded and composed by Shenandoah Conservatory alumni and faculty have been nominated for 2025 Grammy Awards. ‘The Outsiders’ – Nominated for Best ... Continue Reading Albums Featuring Conservatory Alumni and…
CONTEMPO Ensemble Tours and Performs Throughout Virginia and Maryland
This semester, the CONTEMPO Ensemble, a dynamic group of first-year, sophomore, and junior students from the Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development (CMED) program, along with ... Continue Reading CONTEMPO Ensemble Tours and Performs…
Students Experience ‘The Other Americans’ at Arena Stage
A group of more than 20 conservatory students attended a performance of “The Other Americans” at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Nov. 3, as part of Shenandoah Conservatory’s Capital ... Continue Reading Students Experience ‘The Other Americans’…
Shenandoah University Student Named 2025 Miss Apple Blossom Kira Sledge '28 to represent Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival at the 2025 Miss Virginia Competition
Shenandoah University student Kira Sledge ’28 was crowned 2025 Miss Apple Blossom and will serve as an official hostess of the 98th Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia, next ... Continue Reading Shenandoah University Student Named 2025…
Gawason ’25 Excels in Sante Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program, Wins Award
Travis Gawason '25 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Production – Costume Design) served as a stitching and wardrobe apprentice at the Santa Fe Opera (SFO), a unique outdoor opera company ... Continue Reading Gawason ’25 Excels in Sante…
Shenandoah Conservatory Concludes International Tour of Portugal and Spain with Performances of Handel’s ‘Acis & Galatea’
Shenandoah Conservatory students and faculty recently returned from a successful international tour across Portugal and Spain, presenting a concert staging of Handel's “Acis & Galatea” as part of ... Continue Reading Shenandoah Conservatory Concludes International Tour…
Sweet Honey in the Rock® Engages Shenandoah University and Local Community
The Grammy-nominated African American vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock® visited Shenandoah University this past week to engage hundreds of students and community members in a lecture ... Continue Reading Sweet Honey in the Rock®…
Guest Choreographer and Dancer Katie Vickers Presents ‘Survival in Ruins’
Special guest choreographer and dancer Katie Vickers presented “Survival in Ruins” on Thursday, Oct. 3, and Friday, Oct. 4, in Shingleton Dance Space. This unique performance and memoir tells the ... Continue Reading Guest Choreographer and Dancer Katie…
Inaugural Concert of the Ryuji Ueno Institute for Mind & Music Experience
The Ryuji Ueno Institute for Mind & Music Experience will host its first inaugural concert at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, at Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall. The performance features world-class ... Continue Reading Inaugural Concert of the Ryuji…
Frias Teaches Dance Technique and Choreography as Artist-in-Residence This Fall
The Shenandoah Conservatory Dance Division welcomes Adjunct Associate Professor of Dance Ruddy A. Frias, B.F.A., as its guest artist-in-residence this fall. Dance students will have the opportunity to ... Continue Reading Frias Teaches Dance Technique and…
Celebrating 50 Years of Music Therapy at Shenandoah Conservatory
This year, Shenandoah Conservatory students, faculty and alumni join together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the music therapy program, which launched in September 1974. It is the oldest music ... Continue Reading Celebrating 50 Years of Music…
Mustakimov ’26 Wins First Prize at Johannes Brahms International Piano Competition
Pianist Timur Mustakimov ’26 (Artist Diploma) was awarded first prize at the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria. Along with a generous cash prize, he has also been offered concerts ... Continue Reading Mustakimov ’26 Wins First Prize…
Payne ’79 Honored as 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Jerilynn Payne ’79 (Bachelor of Music Therapy) was announced as one of Shenandoah University’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients in the category of Service to the Community. She joins ... Continue Reading Payne ’79 Honored as 2024…
Bonds, Engen and Fitch Guest Direct and Choreograph Fall Musical Theatre Productions ‘Legally Blonde The Musical’ & ‘Waitress’
Shenandoah Conservatory welcomes Broadway artists DB Bonds, Brooke Engen and Andrew Fitch as guest directors and choreographers for two musical theatre productions in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre this ... Continue Reading Bonds, Engen and Fitch Guest…
Medina ’25 Co-organizes Piano Festival and Competition in Guatemala
Jr Medina Romero ’25 (Master of Music in Performance) partnered with Alfonso Hernández to co-organize the Festival-Concurso de Piano “Luis Felipe Arias,” an emerging piano festival and competition in ... Continue Reading Medina ’25 Co-organizes Piano Festival…
Shenandoah Conservatory Awarded $7,000 Grant from Mid Atlantic Arts for Collaborative Project with Sweet Honey in the Rock®
Shenandoah Conservatory has received $7,000 in grant support from Mid Atlantic Arts in support of a collaborative university and community project with the Grammy-nominated African American vocal ... Continue Reading Shenandoah Conservatory Awarded $7,000 Grant…
Maria Manuela Goyanes Announced as 2024/25 Conservatory Convocation Speaker
Shenandoah Conservatory is delighted to announce that Maria Manuela Goyanes, artistic director of Washington D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, will serve as its honored guest and speaker for this ... Continue Reading Maria Manuela Goyanes Announced as…
Dance Project Co-commissioned by Shenandoah Conservatory Awarded NPN Grant
A new dance project co-commissioned by Shenandoah Conservatory was awarded a grant by the National Performance Network (NPN). NPN's 2024 Creation Fund will support the development of “Roots of Loving ... Continue Reading Dance Project Co-commissioned by Shenandoah…
Shenandoah Acting Grad Co-Stars In Film With Matt Damon Scout Backus ’17 Appears in “The Instigators”
Shenandoah University graduate Scout Backus ’17 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting/Shenandoah Conservatory) appears in the Apple TV+ movie, “The Instigators,” starring Matt Damon and Casey ... Continue Reading Shenandoah Acting Grad Co-Stars In…
Naumenko Releases ‘Bespoke Songs’ in Collaboration with Conservatory Faculty and Alumni
Associate Professor of Voice (Soprano) Fotina Naumenko, D.M.A., recently released the new album, “Bespoke Songs,” on July 5, on the New Focus Recordings label. The album features a collection of works ... Continue Reading Naumenko Releases ‘Bespoke Songs’ in…
Conservatory Dance Students Perform in Greece Global Experiential Learning Trip Fulfills Course on Greek Culture, June 14–July 2
Twenty-four Shenandoah Conservatory dance students – including four 2024 dance graduates Kiana (Kiki) Ducusin (B.F.A.), Jenna Lucy (B.A.), Ashley Reed (B.F.A.), and Ian Sabatine (B.F.A.) – traveled ... Continue Reading Conservatory Dance Students Perform in…
Four Theatre Artists Join Performance Operations Team
Shenandoah Conservatory announces the appointment of four theatre artists to Shenandoah Conservatory’s performance operations staff beginning this August. Jessica Lynn Hightower, Scenic Charge and ... Continue Reading Four Theatre Artists Join Performance…
Musical Theatre Lightning Strikes Twice Program’s graduating class has 100% representation – again
For the second consecutive year, the entire graduating class of Shenandoah University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program in musical theatre has representation with New York talent agents and ... Continue Reading Musical Theatre Lightning Strikes Twice…
John Bonanni Appointed Associate Professor of Theatre, Production Management/Stage Management
Shenandoah Conservatory announces the appointment of John Bonanni, M.F.A., as associate professor of theatre, production management/stage management beginning August 2024. “Artistic expression is no ... Continue Reading John Bonanni Appointed Associate Professor…
Shenandoah Conservatory Unveils Exciting Season of Music, Theatre and Dance Welcome to the Conservatory Performs 2024/25 Season
Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University (SU), a hub of activity for those seeking inspiration and entertainment in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, is thrilled to announce its highly ... Continue Reading Shenandoah Conservatory Unveils Exciting Season…
Shenandoah Conservatory Launches New TDP Certificate Programs
The Theatre Design and Production (TDP) program at Shenandoah’s Conservatory is delighted to announce its five new TDP Certificates. These replace the former “second emphasis” and will be available to ... Continue Reading Shenandoah Conservatory Launches New TDP…
Research by Herbst Debunks Long-standing Myth about High-pitched Classical Singing
A long-held belief among voice pedagogues and scientists is that the highest pitches sung by operatic sopranos – like Mozart’s famous “Queen of the Night” aria – are produced in what is called the ... Continue Reading Research by Herbst Debunks Long-standing…
Lori Şen Appointed Assistant Professor of Vocal Pedagogy
Shenandoah Conservatory announces the appointment of Lori Şen, D.M.A., as assistant professor of vocal pedagogy beginning August 2024. Turkish mezzo-soprano and Fulbright alumna Dr. Şen is known for ... Continue Reading Lori Şen Appointed Assistant Professor…