Benjamin Bergey
Assistant Professor of Music
School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts
Music
LocationLehman Auditorium 004
Phone(540) 432-4223
E-Mailbenjamin.bergey@emu.edu
Education
- MM, James Madison University (Music-Conducting Concentration)
- BA, Eastern Mennonite University (Church Music, Vocal Performance)
- DMA, James Madison University (Music-Conducting Concentration)
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Biography
Benjamin Bergey is an energetic and passionate musician, whose conducting has been described as "captivating" and "communicative." He began on the piano and violin at age six, and works now as a conductor, professor, and church musician. As assistant professor, he conducts the Orchestra, Chamber Singers, and University Choir, as well as teaches Music Theory and Conducting. He also advises the new Music and Peacebuilding major.
Bergey is assistant professor of music at EMU, where he directs the choirs and orchestra, and teaches courses on music theory and conducting. He is an active musician who currently serves as assistant conductor for the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, and he also conducts the Rapidan Orchestra in Orange, VA. He completed his doctorate and masters at James Madison University in Orchestral Conducting, where he conducted the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, as well as the Opera Orchestra, conducting performances of Rossini's Barber of Seville and Puccini's La Boheme.
Additionally, Bergey is a prominent music leader in the Mennonite Church, having recently served as Director of Music at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church for six years, and notably as Music Editor for Voices Together, the hymnal for Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada, as well as compiler and editor for the hymnal's Accompaniment Edition. He regularly leads worship and resourcing events at assemblies, workshops, and conferences, and was the music planner for the 2022 Mennonite World Conference Assembly music and songbook. His doctoral research focused on how ensemble music is a tool in peacebuilding by bringing diverse people together for building empathy and dialogue, using two groups in Israel and Palestine as examples.
Bergey is married to his wife, Kate, who together have two children, and they love to garden, bike, hike, and travel.
Mission Statement
Publications
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Exhibits, Performances and Productions
PRESENTATIONS
“Music and Peacebuilding Overview,” Horizons Lunch Guest Speaker, Summer Peacebuilding Institute, May 2024
"Making Music, Building Peace," Workshop leader, Bible and Church Music Conference, Massanetta Springs, July 2023
"Music and Peacebuilding," Workshop leader and committee member, Global Mennonite Peace Conference and Fesitval, June 2023
"Audio Visual Technology in Worship," Speaker, Anabaptist Worship Network, April 2023
Virginia Mennonite Conference Ministry Retreat, Retreat Leader and Presenter, February 2023
"Lent Planning Webinar," Speaker, Anabaptist Worship Network, February 2023
Hymn Sing, School for Leadership Training, VA, January 2023
"Making Music, Building Peace," The Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society, December 2022
"Worship Planning and Leading Seminar," Leader and Presenter, Community Mennonite Church, October 2022
"Young People's Concert," on Copland's Billy the Kid, The Music Room, September, 2022
"Music and Building Peace," Workshop at Mennonite World Conference, July 2022
"Bringing Voices Together: Songs from Around the World," Workshop at Mennonite World Conference, July 2022
"Young People's Concert," on Bach's Art of the Fugue, The Music Room, May 2022
"The Drive to Sing," Documentary on work done with "Driveway Choirs"
Professional Development on Music and Peacebuilding, Lancaster Mennonite Schools Music Teachers, December 2021-January 2022
Fall Lecture Series: Brethren & Mennonite Hymns, Past and Present, lecture at Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center, Harrisonburg, VA, September 2021.
First Mennonite Church Retreat presenter, Richmond, VA, September 2021
Worship Planner and Music Leader, Mennonite Church USA National Assembly, July 2021
"Voices Together: A Closer Look," Seminar Presentation, Mennonite Church USA National Assembly, July 2021
"Music and Peacebuilding," Peacebuilder Podcast Interview, May 2021
"God’s Breath, Our Breath: Voices Together brings new breath to worship," Seminar Presentation, School for Leadership Training, 2021
"Engaging Communities in Worship," Voices Together Launch, 2021
"Using the Accompaniment Edition," Laurelville Mennonite Music and Worship Leaders Retreat, 2021
Driveway Choirs, Creating contributor, August 2020, https://www.drivewaychoir.org/resources/whos-doing-it
Mennonite Arts Weekend, Seminar Presenter and Music Leader, February 2020
"Finding a way in: challenges and rewards of leading new material," and "Plenary: Using the Accompaniment Edition," Mennonite Music and Worship Leaders Retreat, January 2020
"Taize Worship as a Resource for the Church," "Voices Together: Leading congregational song across styles," " Prepare the way: Anticipating the arrival of Voices Together," Seminar Presentations; hymn sing leader, Mennonite Church USA National Assembly, Kansas City, MO, July 2019
Mountain States Mennonite Conference Faith and Life Forum, Workshop and Music Leader, March 2019
"Come Paired With What?: Finding synergy in text/tune pairings," and Plenaries, Mennonite Music and Worship Leaders Retreat, January 2019
"Music and Peacebuilding: A Lecture Recital with Beethoven Symphony No. 9," DMA Lecture Recital Presentation, James Madison University, January 2018
"Sing a New World Into Being," and "Mentoring budding song leaders in your congregation," Mennonite Music and Worship Leaders Retreat, January 2018
Laurelville Mennonite Music and Worship Leader's Retreat; Planner, Presenter, Musician, 2017-Present
School for Leadership Training, Planning Committee Chair, January 2013
GUEST CONDUCTING/ADJUDICATING
District Choir Honors Choir Festival, Guest Conductor, February 2024
Shenandoah County School All-County Honors Choir, Guest Conductor, November 2023
Mennonite School Council Choral Festival, Guest Conductor, April 2023
SCW Junior Regional Orchestra A, Guest Conductor, March 2023
District V Choral Assessment, Adjudicator, March 2023
All-VA District XIV Auditions, Adjudicator, February 2023
District V District Choir Auditions, Adjudicator, November 2022
Mennonite World Conference, Assembly Music Coordinator, July 2022
Spring String Thing Symphony Orchestra Festival Guest Conductor, May 2022
Eastern Mennonite School Festival Orchestra Guest Conductor, March 2022
District XIV Festival Choir Guest Conductor, February 2022
District V Festival Choir Guest Conductor, April 2021
Spring String Thing Symphony Orchestra Festival Guest Conductor, May 2020 (cancelled-pandemic)
SouthCentral Junior Regional Orchestra Festival Guest Conductor, March 2020 (cancelled-pandemic)
District XIV High School Festival Orchestra Guest Conductor, January 2020
"Community Music and Drum Circle," The Music Room, Orange, VA, 2019-Present
District XIV Orchestra Adjudicator, 2018, 2019
Shenandoah All-County Orchestra, Guest Conductor, Mt. Jackson, VA, October 2018
Festival of Praise Mass Choir, Harrisonburg, VA, November 2017
Shenandoah All-County Orchestra, Guest Conductor, Mt. Jackson, VA, November 2016
Shenandoah Summer Strings, Guest Conductor, Woodstock, VA, July 2016
Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony, Substitute Conductor, Harrisonburg, VA, March 2016
Mennonite Schools Instrumental Festival, Guest Conductor, Harrisonburg, VA, February 2015
SELECTED PRODUCTIONS
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, EMU Choirs and Orchestra, November 2023
Nicolas Flagello's "Passion of MLK," EMU Choirs and Orchestra, November 2022
Vaughan William's "Dona Nobis Pacem," EMU Choirs and Orchestra, November 2021
Rutter's "Requiem," EMU Choirs and Orchestra, November 2019
Beethoven Symphony No. 9, DMA Lecture Recital, James Madison University, January 2018
Pierrot Lunaire, Conductor, Madison Modern Music Ensemble, February 2016
Il barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Conductor, James Madison University, November 2015
Zehn Mädchen und kein Mann, Opera Conductor, Freiberg, Germany, June 2015
"Stravinsky and Tempo Modulations: A Lecture Recital with early Stravinsky ballets," MM Lecture Recital Presentation, James Madison University, January 2015
La Bohème, Opera Conductor, James Madison University, November 2014
Cabaret, Music Director, Eastern Mennonite University, February 2008
GRANTS AND HONORS
“40 Under 40” in Music Education, Yamaha Corporation, 2024
Platinum Prize winner in World Classical Music Awards, Conducting Division, 2024
Chamber Singers selected for MWC and VMEA events
The American Prize 2nd Place in Orchestral Conducting, 2023
Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient, Assistant Professor Category, 2023
Inclusive Excellence Grant Recipient, "The Passion of MLK," 2022
Thriving in Ministry, Lilly Grant Recipient, 2022
"Adapting Open Educational Resources for Music Theory Courses at EMU," VIVA Grant Recipient, 2021.
Young Alum of the Year, Dock Mennonite Academy, 2020
Nominee for the Lilly 2020 Arlin G. Meyer Prize
Church, Community and Professional Service
Assistant Conductor, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, 2022-Present
Artistic Director, Rapidan Orchestra, 2016-Present
Laurelville Mennonite Music and Worship Leader's Retreat; Planner, Presenter, Musician, 2017-Present
Project Director, Anabaptist Worship Network, 2020-Present
Mennonite Arts Weekend, Board Member, 2020-2023
Mennonite World Conference, Assembly Music Planner and Program Team Member, 2019-2022
Community Messiah Singalong Conductor, Park View Mennonite Church, each January
Director of Music, Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, 2016-2022
Global Mennonite Peace Conference committee member, 2021-2023
MCUSA Convention Morning Worship Leader, Cincinnati, OH 2021
Director, Harrisonburg Sacred Arts Festival, 2018-2020
Music Editor, Voices Together, 2020
Editor and Compiler, Voices Together: Accompaniment Edition, 2020
Board Member, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival 2015-2021
Guest Worship Leader outside of EMU
University Mennonite Church, State College, PA, June 2023
Berlin Mennonite Church, Berlin, OH, March 2023
Lindale Mennonite Church, VA, February 2023
Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, February 2023
Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA, Oct 2022
Asbury United Methodist Church, VA, October 2022
James Street Mennonite Church, Lancaster, PA, Sept 2022
Immanuel Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA, July 2022
Mennonite World Conference Assembly, Salatiga, Indonesia, July 2022
Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, April 2022
Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, Blossom Hill, PA March 2022
Laurelville Retreat Center, Laurelville, PA, January 2022
First Mennonite Church, Richmond, VA, Sept 2021
Mennonite Church USA National Convention, Kansas City, July 2021
Shalom Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA, May 2021
Laurelville Retreat Center, Laurelville, PA, January 2021
Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Blooming Glen, PA, March 2020
Laurelville Retreat Center, Laurelville, PA, January 2020
Institutional Service
Academic Council, 2022-Present
Inclusive Excellence Grant Award Committee, 2022-Present
Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, 2020-Present
Faculty/Staff Fall Conference Committee and worship leader, 2020-Present
Campus Ministries Council, 2019-Present
Encore Faculty Representative, 2019-Present
Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival planning committee, 2021-2023
Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Choir Member, 2022
Intellectual Life Commission, 2020-2021
Regular song and worship leader for chapels, convocations, ceremonies, and conferences
Faculty mentor for senior projects
C. Henry Smith Oratorical Competition mentor
Professional Memberships
College Orchestra Directors Association
American Choral Directors Association
Conductor's Guild
College Music Society
National Association for Music Education
Virginia Music Educators Association
Hymn Society of the US and Canada
Special Training:
Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience, Level 1, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding
Musicians Without Borders Leaders, Level 1
Deep Listening Training, Level 1, Rensselaer Institute