World of Piano: Sarah Davis Buechner

World of the Piano

Noted for her musical command, cosmopolitan artistry and visionary independence, Sara Davis Buechner is one of the most original concert pianists of our time. Lauded for her “intelligence, integrity and all-encompassing technical prowess” (The New York Times), “thoughtful artistry in the full service of music” (Washington Post) and “astounding virtuosity” (Philippine Star), Japan’s InTune magazine sums it up: “Buechner has no superior.” She has been awarded top prizes at many of the world’s premier international piano competitions, and was the Bronze Medalist of the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and Gold Medalist of the 1984 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in the United States.

Winchester Musica Viva: A Christmas Carol

Winchester Musica Viva, Winchester’s premiere semi-professional chamber choir, presents performances of a new setting of Charles Dickens’s beloved story, A Christmas Carol. This 70-minute work, for a cappella choir and narrator was written in 2022 by Grammy-nominated choral composer, Benedict Sheehan. The narrator for the performance will be renowned storyteller, Adam Booth, West Virginia’s 2022 Folk Artist of The Year. The performance tells the beloved story of Ebeneezer Scrooge’s redemption through ghostly visitation. The storytelling is accompanied by several well-known Christmas carols. In addition to leading the carols, the choir provides dramatic underscoring to the iconic story.

Winchester Musica Viva (WMV) is in its 43rd year of making high-caliber choral music in the Winchester area. Musica Viva is conducted by Artistic Director, Dr. W. Bryce Hayes, associate professor of choral music at James Madison University. The 24 singers of WMV are professional musicians, teachers, and church musicians from throughout the broader Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Performances of A Christmas Carol will be on Friday, December 15, 7:30 PM at St. James The Greater Catholic Church in Charles Town, West Virginia; and Sunday, December 17, 3:00 PM at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winchester, VA. Tickets are $20 for adults and admission is free to all students.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://wincmusicaviva.ludus.com/index.php or at the door.

Symphonic Band

Shaun Evans, Conductor

The Symphonic Band presents an afternoon of works for symphonic winds under the direction of Shaun Evans.

Contempo Ensemble: Home for the Holidays

Rod Vester, Director

Home for the Holidays

Get into the holiday spirit with the CONTEMPO Ensemble. This dazzling concert will take you on a festive journey filled with joyous and heartwarming sounds that are sure to make your season merry and bright. Known for its expansive repertoire, the CONTEMPO Ensemble performs a wide variety of styles and genres, including original compositions by ensemble members. Bring a friend and come enjoy a night of seasonal favorites and new songs for everyone.

Percussion Ensemble

Under the direction of Assistant Professor of Percussion Karlyn Viña, members of the Percussion Ensemble present their fall concert.

Honors Chamber Music Recital

Shenandoah Conservatory highlights the work of some of its most talented instrumental students with a special concert featuring a lineup of classical chamber music repertoire.

Clarinet Choir

Under the direction of Professor of Clarinet Garrick Zoeter, members of the Clarinet Choir present their fall concert.

Studio Big Band: A Salute to Veterans

Matthew Niess, Director of Jazz & Commercial Music

A Salute to Veterans

The Studio Big Band celebrates Veterans Day with music inspired by world events as a salute to popular veteran musicians with music from big band, rock-n-roll, pop and beyond. This performance features Shenandoah’s very own veteran faculty with music from veterans Wayne Shorter, Glenn Miller, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, John Philip Sousa, Lester Young and more.

Caged Birds

Thursday, November 9 at 7:30PM
Friday, November 10 at 7:30PM
Saturday, November 11 at 7:30PM

Opera Up Close with EDGE Ensemble

Caged Birds

Set in an intimate black box studio, Opera Up Close features small ensembles, but big ideas. Caged Birds is a multi-disciplinary collaboration featuring dance and opera, as well as augmented reality by the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning (SCIL) Lab and live music by the conservatory’s own EDGE Ensemble. The production, which features works by Julius Eastman, Meredith Monk, Santa Ratniece and Missy Mazzoli, is an immersive exploration and meditation on identity through the lens of composers who have pushed the boundaries of classical music in recent years. Conceived and staged by Director of Opera Ella Marchment, Caged Birds imagines a gathering of women trapped by, or in, their own bodies. Featuring characters inspired by Princess Diana, poet/writer Sylvia Plath, obstetrician Margaret Ann Bulkley (under the male pseudonym James Barry) and singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse, the work creatively explores iconic figures from across history and immerses audiences in their struggles to be accepted for who they were in a male-dominated society.

Sung in English with chamber ensemble accompaniment

Directed by Ella Marchment
Music by EDGE Ensemble, under the direction of Jonathan Newman and Timothy J. Robblee
Augmented reality design by SU SCIL Lab
Choreography by Lindsay Browning

Suggested Show Rating: PG
Some productions contain mature content and/or content that may be offensive to some audiences. Contact the Box Office for more information.

Trombone Collective

Under the direction of Director of Jazz & Commercial Music and Associate Professor of Trombone Matthew Niess, members of the Trombone Collective present their fall concert.