Shenandoah University

Eleven students and two faculty members from Shenandoah Conservatory's acting program participated in the York Plays 2025 in Toronto, Canada. The event featured 50 short plays in 35 clusters, each produced and directed in medieval style by a different contributing group. Shenandoah Conservatory was one of 17 performance groups from across North America that participated in the event. Organized and hosted by Toronto's Poculi Ludique Societas (PLS) and the Center for Renaissance and Reformation Studies (CRRS), the event converged at Burwash Quad at Victoria University of the University of Toronto. Each play was performed on replica medieval wagon stages across three performance stations outdoors. In true medieval style, there were no chairs set up at any of the stations and audiences wandered from play to play at will. This was only the third known time the cycle has been performed in its entirety since 1600. Shenandoah Conservatory produced and performed three episodes from the biblical plays: "The Flight Into Egypt," "The Slaughter of the Innocents" and "The Remorse of Judas." They also participated in the grand finale "The Last Judgment" with all performers. Participating Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting students included Emrie Branch '25, Giavanna Bruno '26, Dylan Buchwald '25, Megan Griffin-Ferry '28, Maggie Herber '26, Katherine Marston '26, Izzy Miller '26, Wyatt Moore '27, Emma Reed '26, Tenebrae Rouner '28 and Fiona Sullivan '27. Participating faculty include Dr. Coulson and Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Kit Wilder.

Shenandoah Conservatory announces the winners of the 2025/26 Student Soloists Competition (SSC) on behalf of the SSC committee. Competition Winners Christopher Gilley, cello (Category I) Timur Mustakimov, piano (Category II) Cadence Weaver, voice (Category II) The final round of the competition was held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, in Armstrong Concert Hall (view the digital program to learn more about the final round). Winners of this year's competition will be featured in performances with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2025/26 season.

Rylie Barr '27 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance) performed her solo work, "Show Me What Not to Do," at the Koresh Artist Showcase on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2. The initiative is hosted by the Philadelphia-based Koresh Dance Company and was created to give local, emerging talent a platform to present their work, as well as give the community a chance to discover new artists and new styles of dance. Barr's piece was created during her solo composition class at Shenandoah.

MiKayla Lynn Hatfield '22, '26 (Master of Music in Performance, Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance) and Reese Holahan '25 (Master of Music in Pedagogy - Classical Voice) performed with the Charlottesville Opera in "Sing Me a Story: Your Journey to the Stage" from Feb. 21, through Feb. 25. "Your Journey to the Stage," is an engaging program designed for students in grades 3-8, although impactful for high school students who are interested in the arts as well. This immersive Arts Education experience pulled back the curtain on opera, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the diverse roles and journeys that bring this vibrant art form to life.

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 New Year's Day Parade. It will be the first international performance for the marching band, which debuted with 73 members in 2022 and has grown to include over 150 students this year.

Shenandoah University student 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 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this past summer. This apprentice program offers instruction, practical experience and hands-on professional training. Gawason stitched the costumes during the day and at night, worked wardrobe on "La Traviata," "Don Giovanni" and the premiere of "The Righteous," as well as "Der Rosenkavalier" and "The Elixir of Life" as part of the SFO's 2024 season.

Shenandoah Conservatory announced the winners of the 2024-25 Student Soloists Competition. Category I winners were Gabrielle Gans (violin) and Noah Alden Hardaway (piano), while Category II winners were Jean Lin (piano) and John Tuvera Lim (baritone).

Members of the Shenandoah Conservatory trumpet studio have advanced to the live round portion of the large group category at the National Trumpet Competition (NTC). NTC will be held at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus from March 8-11. They will perform "Thermal Whiplash" written by Chris Evan Hass.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Darian Angel '26 (Bachelor of Music in performance) won first prize in the College Division of the Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition at the University of Maryland on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Nitin Anish '26 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development) released the new single "Finish Line" on Feb. 23; the new song is available on all streaming platforms. The song evokes the celebratory feeling of leaving a sticky situation or relationship.

Shenandoah Conservatory graduate Caitlyn Piedra '23 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) was cast in a new musical by Carlos Bauzys and Kim Bixler based on the life of Fernando Barba, who is the man who founded the Brazilian body percussion group The Barbatuques. Piedra is part of the Barbatuques and takes on the harder body percussion sequences in the show. The production ran at Pregones Theater in the Bronx from Friday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, Feb. 25. This Off-Broadway show is directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado, and features Valeria Cossuas as the associate director and Matthew Steffens as the associate choreographer.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Miguel Gil '25 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) and SU graduate Drew Elhamalawy '21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre) took part in "The Lost Boys" workshop in New York in February. The 1987 film "The Lost Boys" is being made into a musical with "Parade" director Michael Arden and musical band The Rescues. Broadway and film actors James Carpinello, Marcus Chait and Patrick Wilson will produce the show. Gil played the role of Edgar and Elhamalawy served as the assistant director.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Samantha Isely '24 is the artistic director for The Valley Chorale's Christmas concerts, "Once Upon A Christmas."

Shenandoah Conservatory has announced the winners of the 2023-24 Student Soloists Competition. Those students will be featured in a performance with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra in February.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Maximiliano Fernandez Escalona '26 received an invitation to present a performance of his piece "The Two-Headed Calf" at the 2023 Virginia Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference's Composition Festival.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Riley Thad Young '23 was involved in the musical workshop for "To Sir with Love" in November 2023.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Elias Aguirre '24 was cast in a production of George Bizet's opera "Carmen" in Salta, Argentina.

Shenandoah Conservatory student Bailey Lehfeldt traveled to Toronto in October to witness a the recording and production of her song, "Queen of Moving On."

The horror film "GetAWAY," a Shenandoah University-produced flick, is making its world premiere June 11-21 at the 20th annual deadCenter Film Festival. "GetAWAY" beat out thousands of independent films to earn a spot at the prestigious festival, which takes place each year in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The film tells the story of the terror that happens when a group of college students go for a weekend trip to shoot a short horror film for class.

"GetAWAY," a horror film created by Shenandoah University's film department, has been selected for the 20th annual deadCenter Film Festival. The festival will air virtually from June 11-21. This will be the worldwide premiere for the film, which stars a Shenandoah cast and crew.

Thirty Shenandoah Conservatory students are starring in an all-female cast for the university's production of the Broadway hit "1776." The play tells the story of the Founding Fathers and the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The all-female ensemble was chosen to give the musical a fresh perspective. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-22 and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre.

Thirty Shenandoah Conservatory students are starring in an all-female cast for the Broadway hit "1776." The play tells the story of the Founding Fathers and the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The all-female ensemble was chosen to give the musical a fresh perspective. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-22 and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre.