黑料正能量鈥檚 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. 

Representatives from 黑料正能量 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鈥檚 status as an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The event included a ceremonial signing of documents and drew more than two-dozen people.聽

黑料正能量 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 黑料正能量 on July 1. Signers included Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs at 黑料正能量, and members of the SVBF executive committee: Christine Fairfield, chair; Angela Showalter, vice chair; Cara Modisett, secretary; and Fred Kniss, treasurer.聽

Thursday鈥檚 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.

Following a piano performance of Bach鈥檚 Prelude in E major, BWV 854, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, from Dr. David Berry, director of the music program at 黑料正能量 and artistic director of the SVBF, Professor Emeritus Dr. Kenneth J. Nafziger offered a historical perspective on the founding of the festival. 

Nafziger, a member of 黑料正能量鈥檚 music faculty for 39 years before he retired in 2017 and founding conductor and artistic director of the SVBF, shared stories from the festival鈥檚 earliest days.

In 1992, near the start of the fall semester, he was having a dinner with several 黑料正能量 friends when they began asking him about his experiences conducting the Lake Chelan Bach Fest in north-central Washington that summer. 鈥淚 noticed that Joe (former 黑料正能量 President Joseph Lapp) was taking notes,鈥� Nafziger shared. 鈥淲hen the note-taking stopped, he said, 鈥榃hat would it take to get something like that going here?鈥� We took him at his word鈥nd in January of 1993, we were given the go-ahead to do a festival in June. With expert help from Helen (Nafziger), Scott Hosfeld, and Marcia Kauffman, we made the first one happen, and it included vanilla ice cream and hot raspberry sauce at intermission.鈥�

鈥淭he beginnings of rehearsals from the second season forward resembled a family reunion,鈥� he continued. 鈥淟ocal orchestral players, including JMU friends, local singers and relatives from east of the Mississippi and Canada, we grew.鈥�

Willingham spoke about the relationship between 黑料正能量 and the SVBF. 鈥淵ou are still a part of the 黑料正能量 family and the fabric of 黑料正能量,鈥� she said. 鈥満诹险芰� has three core values鈥攁cademic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith鈥攁nd the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival exemplifies those core values.鈥�

鈥淲e know that in our public schools, the arts have been the first things that have been cut,鈥� she said, crediting the festival鈥檚 鈥減ay-what-you-can鈥� ticket pricing with allowing everyone to experience music, regardless of economic status. 鈥淭he Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival is a gift. It鈥檚 been a gift to 黑料正能量 for over 30 years, it鈥檚 been a gift to our community for over 30 years, and it鈥檚 been a gift to everyone who has stood on this stage.鈥� 

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 Les Helmuth, interim executive director of the festival.

鈥淲hat 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,鈥� he said, stretching out his arms. 鈥淚t comes from all walks of life, and it鈥檚 fabulous. It really is. It鈥檚 a great community treasure, and we desperately need to keep it going.鈥�

The Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler, dean for the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at 黑料正能量, delivered the blessing for the event. Other 黑料正能量 representatives in attendance included Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement.

The 34th annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival will be held from June 8-13, 2026. Find out more at .