On the theme of “Journeys,” the 2025 Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival is a concentrated week of glorious music and community, with performances held on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University and in downtown Harrisonburg.
At the age of 20, Johann Sebastian Bach walked more than 200 miles from his hometown just to hear master organist Dietrich Buxtehude play. The “journey” that inspired Bach inspired the 2025 SVBF theme, but festival musicians and audiences, for 33 years, have also made their own journeys, from near and far, to participate in the annual week described by the Virginia Commission for the Arts as “a jewel in Harrisonburg’s crown.”
June 9 to 15, 2025 will include concerts featuring full orchestra, chamber musicians, a 50-voice choir, soloists, and recitals in Harrisonburg venues. Apart from concerts, hours and hours of rehearsals, some pre-concert talks and musicians getting together to talk or play will be held.
Two festival concerts with full orchestra, choir and soloists are held at Eastern Mennonite University’s Lehman Auditorium. The first on June 13, at 7:30 p.m. includes Gustav Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrdenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer), sung by Harrisonburg baritone David Newman with orchestra. Also on the program: Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Claude Debussy’s Prelude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun), Suite from Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland, and Starburst by contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery.
On June 14 at 7:30 p.m., a concert will feature Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 1 and Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) by Johannes Brahms. The requiem soloists are Newman and soprano Christine Glick Fairfield. SVBF Principal Conductor Daniel Myssyk leads the orchestra and choir.
Tickets to festival concerts are priced at “pay what you will”: a choice of $10, $25 or $40 for any seat and are available online and at the door.
Concerts are held Monday through Friday, June 9 to 13 at Asbury United Methodist Church in downtown Harrisonburg at noon each day. The free concerts feature smaller groups of musicians presenting musical variations on the “Journeys” theme. Individual noon concert themes in order by day are “Beginning the Journey”, “On the ‘Organ’ Trail”, “New Paths”, “Familiar Roads” and “My Favorite Things.”
On June 9, Newman sings the Schubert song cycle Winterreise (Winter Journey). Tuesday’s concert honors Bach’s journey to hear Buxtehude with organ music and chamber music with organ. Wednesday’s focus is new music, including a new sonata for viola and piano performed by its composer, Scott Wheeler, and Celia Daggy, the SVBF principal violist; and Three American Songs performed by a trio that includes its composer, Stephen Key, SVBF principal oboist. Thursday’s edition features Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat major, with David Berry, pianist and the Bach Festival’s artistic director [bio]. Friday includes chamber music and a performance by “rising star” Hillary Arimoto, a sophomore at Redeemer Classical School in Keezletown, who won the 2025 Eastern Mennonite University High School Music Competition.
A worship service modeled on the Lutheran liturgy from Bach’s time (1723 to 1750) as director of church music in Leipzig, Germany, concludes the festival on June 15 at 10 a.m., at Eastern Mennonite University’s Lehman Auditorium. The service will include a Bach cantata — Du Hirte Israel, höre (BWV 104) congregational singing, organ music from nationally renowned organist Marvin Mills, soloists Jordan Davidson (tenor) and Shannon Kiser (bass), Appalachian hymns sung by old-time music trio After Jack, readings and a homily by Rev. Cara Ellen Modisett. The service is led by Benjamin Bergey, SVBF assistant conductor. Everyone is welcome.
A new event for 2025 will be the Rock Bach @ Pale Fire on June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pale Fire Brewing Co. in downtown Harrisonburg. Inspired by little known vignettes from Bach’s life about his fun-loving side, the event will be headlined by local “alt-country” band Dogwood Tales. Attendees will receive a complimentary Rock Bach pint glass on a first come, first serve basis. Free admission, buy your own beer.
The Virginia Baroque Academy Faculty Concert will be June 12 at 7:30 p.m., at Asbury United Methodist Church, which features performances from instructors of the week-long early music study. The academy, held the same week as the Bach Festival, provides participants with experience in Baroque technique and interpretation through masterclasses and ensemble sessions with internationally acclaimed faculty. Tickets are priced at “pay what you will”: a choice of $10, $25 or $40 for any seat and are available online and at the door.
The students of the academy will also perform at the Baroque Workshop Final Concert on June 14 at 11 a.m., at Martin Chapel on Eastern Mennonite University’s campus, where they will showcase chamber works from 17th- and 18th Century instrumental and vocal repertoire, including “The Judgement of Paris.” Admission is free admission.
Share
Chris Graham
