The honor, co-sponsored by the Forbes Center, the Arts Council of the Valley, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University, recognizes 鈥渋ndividuals and organizations in Virginia鈥檚 Shenandoah Valley that enhance and strengthen the cultural community by promoting and advocating for artistic excellence.鈥�

Nafziger 鈥� hymnal editor, choral conductor, and founder, conductor and artistic director 鈥� has done precisely that.

The timing of the awards presentation was fitting, as shortly after Nafziger began channeling his music-making prowess into the 23rd annual festival, a week-long summer event which gathers musicians and singers from around the country. Three concerts, all in Lehman Auditorium, remain on the schedule: Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday morning Leipzig service at 10 a.m.

The award ‘belongs to us all’

During his acceptance speech, Nafziger celebrated the collaborative efforts of his many fellow musicians: 鈥淭his award is a reminder that, in my primary means of music-making, which is conducting, there is nothing I can do alone. Therefore, this Circle of Excellence award belongs to us all who have often shared workspace 鈥� concert hall stage, or rehearsal room, or church 鈥� each in some way a playground of the inner life. I cherish the sounds, the beauty, the work, the risks, the joys and the moments that we have experienced together.鈥�

He also saluted past recipients Stan Swartz, a theater teacher at Harrisonburg High School, and OASIS Fine Art & Craft, a Harrisonburg art cooperative.

A member of the faculty at EMU since 1977, he was nominated for the award by his colleague, Professor . (Griffing, concertmaster of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Orchestra, was unavailable to comment).

鈥淒ue to his many years of experience and stellar reputation as a conductor, the Bach Festival regularly attracts highly talented instrumental and choral musicians from around the U.S. and Canada each summer,鈥� wrote President in his supporting letter to Griffing鈥檚 nomination.

To the region and beyond

In addition to the Bach Festival, Nafziger has a long legacy of bringing musical excellence to the region. This is his 20th year as the music director of , a chamber choir based in Winchester. With both Musica Viva and the EMU , he鈥檚 toured widely in local venues, including participating in and planning worship services of various denominations.

Mennonite congregations in the Valley and indeed, all of North America, also worship using the songbook staples that bear his editing mark鈥� Hymnal: A Worship Book, Sing the Journey and Sing the Story.

鈥淜en is known across the Mennonite Church, and in many other denominations, as a dynamic worship planner and leader,鈥� wrote Swartzendruber.

Nafziger has also opened the world to area musicians, taking both choral groups on tours of Cuba, and traveling himself to the island as a guest conductor, master class professor and project collaborator.

As his acceptance speech suggests, Nafziger鈥檚 unflagging enthusiasm and dynamism will continue to shape the Shenandoah Valley’s music scene.

鈥淭his honor is encouragement to keep on musicking 鈥� no slowing down, no quitting, no easing up,鈥� said Nafziger. 鈥淩ather, it tells me that I should take seriously this terse bit of American industrialist Henry J. Kaiser鈥檚 advice, ‘If your work speaks for itself, don鈥檛 interrupt!’鈥�

聽For more information about the remaining Bach Festival concerts, click . For tickets, click .

A freewill offering will be taken at Sunday’s 10 a.m. Leipzig service.

鈥淲e are delighted that Louise is willing to share her people skills, organizational gifts, eye for detail and enthusiasm with EMU at this important time in our history,鈥� said , EMU鈥檚 director of marketing and communications.

Hostetter will work with those giving leadership to various aspects of the year鈥檚 celebrations, including large-venue events involving music, theater and art; alumni gatherings; worship services; academic department gatherings; storytelling; and displays. She will oversee the master schedule and manage the centennial budget.

鈥淓MU began with the vision of relatively few people and has grown over the past 100 years to a global community,鈥� said Hostetter. 鈥淲ith the resources of those who are currently involved with EMU as well as those with past connections, we can explore and honor the history of EMU with a variety of events in 2017-18 as well as celebrate the vision going forward.鈥�

Hostetter also serves on: the advisory boards for and the arts complex at James Madison University; the church council of ; and the board of .

In 2011-13 she co-chaired the capital campaign for the and in 2010-11 she was president of the EMU Alumni Council. From 1999 to 2012 she was an intensive individualized instructor at .

Coming to EMU from Arcola, Ill., Hostetter majored in English education and met her future husband, Alden Hostetter ’79, a pathologist. All three of their sons have attended EMU.

A 10-member planning task force began meeting in 2008 鈥渢o plan for a centennial plan,鈥� said Wenger. The task force , a 1967 graduate who is the nation鈥檚 best-known writer on Amish and Mennonite culture. A sociologist by training, he is a professor at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania and the author of dozens of publications.

A page on the EMU website, , invites submissions of stories and photographs for centennial celebration use and ideas for the centennial committee to consider.

The centennial celebrations will last throughout the academic year of 2017-18. The biggest gathering will likely be during Homecoming & Parents Weekend in October. A worship service on Oct. 19 will mark exactly 100 years since the start of classes in 1917.

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