Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival

Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival We like to say “Bach is just the beginning” to share our deep appreciation of the breadth of work influenced by the musical inventions of Bach.

At the intersection of harmony, humanity, and nature, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival gathers world-class artists and inquisitive audiences to celebrate the life and joy of great music. Nestled in beautiful Harrisonburg, VA on native Manahoac land in the Shenandoah Valley, SVBF prioritizes equity, justice, and environmental sustainability in our work through inclusive educational initiatives,

meaningful programming, and green practices. We are a program of Eastern Mennonite University and are proud to share the university’s commitment to peacebuilding, social justice, cross-cultural engagement, and sustainability in the arts. Every year our week-long summer festival presents vibrant performances by local artists, the Shenandoah Valley Chamber Orchestra, and the Festival Choir. Listeners can attend large and small performances of orchestra and chamber music, family and kids events, poetry readings, music talks, and local bands. Our immersive educational initiatives invite young musicians and aspiring arts administrators from all over the country to participate in our fellowship programs and learn historically informed performance practices in our Baroque Workshop. Attendees can also take advantage of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley through a number of local activities such as hiking, mountain biking, cavern tours, wineries and breweries, museums, and immersive musical experiences in our parks and nature preserves.

Join us tomorrow as members of the Virginia Baroque Academy share Bach’s Concerto for Two Harpsichords, featuring solois...
06/09/2026

Join us tomorrow as members of the Virginia Baroque Academy share Bach’s Concerto for Two Harpsichords, featuring soloists Lynne Mackey and Arthur Hass!

At each of our noon recitals this week, we'll be giving away two $50 gift certificates to local restaurants to audience ...
06/08/2026

At each of our noon recitals this week, we'll be giving away two $50 gift certificates to local restaurants to audience members. Come join us for great music and the chance to potentially win a free gift certificate!

Daily Countdown to the Bach Festival: 1 Day!
06/08/2026

Daily Countdown to the Bach Festival: 1 Day!

06/06/2026

Daily Countdown to the Bach Festival: 2 Days! Today's highlight: electronics, saxophones, and more!

We are living into the technological side of our Inventions theme on our Thursday, June 11th noon concert! Come hear Bach's Italian Concerto as you've never heard it before performed by saxophone quartet Øra nØir in their SVBF debut, and amazing pieces for cello and electronics and percussion and electronics performed by grammy-nominated cellist, and former SVBF executive director, Amanda Gookin and award-winning composer Eric Guinivan. The concert is free in person at Asbury United Methodist Church, or you can purchase livestream tickets at the link in the comments.

Check out this clip of Amanda's astounding performance of Jessica Meyer's "Swerve" at the venue National Sawdust in New York City!

Daily Countdown to the Bach Festival: 3 Days! Today's highlight: Ignatius Sancho and Julian Grant.We are excited to cele...
06/06/2026

Daily Countdown to the Bach Festival: 3 Days! Today's highlight: Ignatius Sancho and Julian Grant.

We are excited to celebrate the music and legacy of 18th century Afro-British writer, abolitionist, and composer Ignatius Sancho this season! Come hear award-winning composer Julian Grant's wonderful compilation and interpretation of Sancho's works in his piece "Sancho's Dance Mix: A Suite of Dance Tunes by Ignatius Sancho" on the Saturday Festival II concert. Links for in-person and livestream tickets in the comments!

Julian will also give a free lecture on the discovery of Sancho's works, the birth of Sancho's Dance-Mix, and the story of the amazing Buskaid Music School in Soweto that premiered the piece! Join us at 2pm at Massanutten Regional Library.

Check out this great video of the Buskaid Music School Ensemble performing Sancho's Dance-Mix!

Sancho’s Dance Mix - Julian Grant (1960-)A suite on dance tunes by...

06/05/2026

Daily Countdown to the Bach Festival: 4 Days! Today's highlight: Soprano Penelope Shumate.

Acclaimed soprano Penelope Shumate has appeared as a soloist in Carnegie Hall over 20 times and has been praised by the New York Times for her "bell-like clarity." Come hear her radiant voice in Handel's one and only Dixit Dominus. Prepare for an evening of surpassing beauty! Saturday, June 13th. One night only. Links for in-person and livestream tickets in the comments!

Check out this video of Penelope singing "He Shall Feed His Flock" from Handel's Messiah at the famous Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic in London!

For the next 5 days we'll highlight a special performance, performer, or composer coming up at the festival this season ...
06/03/2026

For the next 5 days we'll highlight a special performance, performer, or composer coming up at the festival this season leading up to opening day! Today's highlight: Four Sea Interludes.

Are you ready to experience the sound of the sea like never before? Come hear Daniel Myssyk and the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Orchestra in Britten's astounding symphonic masterpiece Four Sea Interludes. Friday, June 12th. One night only. Links for in-person and livestream tickets in the comments!

Check out this amazing performance of the Four Sea Interludes by Tabita Berglund and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra!

Benjamin Britten has emerged as one of the most important English c...

Our artistic director David Berry was featured on WHSV's arts and culture talk show "Screens and Stages" discussing what...
06/02/2026

Our artistic director David Berry was featured on WHSV's arts and culture talk show "Screens and Stages" discussing what is exciting about this year's festival. Tune in tonight at 7pm at https://www.whsv.com/video/screens-and-stages/

Next week we gather for seven days of music that inspires, moves, and connects us all. As we get closer we'll be highlig...
06/01/2026

Next week we gather for seven days of music that inspires, moves, and connects us all. As we get closer we'll be highlighting some of the extraordinary talent coming to the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival stages. Creative Inventions is nearly here, and there is still time to join us. Don't wait, get your tickets today! https://www.svbachfestival.org/calendar/2026-bach-festival.

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1200 Park Road
Harrisonburg, VA
22802

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+15404324652

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