It happens around the second weekend in October each year – scores of former 草莓社区 students return to campus and reconnect with friends and former classmates.

More than a thousand EMU alumni and parents of students are expected to continue that tradition Oct. 13-15, 2006 as they gather to celebrate on the theme, "Setting the Stage: Service & Song."

Among the myriad events scheduled are "EMU on Stage," with performances by students, faculty and alumni, interspersed with humorous skits from the theater department 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 13 in Lehman Auditorium.

Mennofolk Music

"," a festival of acoustic musicians with Mennonite connections or roots, will provide the main entertainment at this year’s homecoming event.

The Cincinnati-based duo "Over the Rhine" will present a concert 9 p.m. Saturday in Lehman Auditorium. Fifteen other acts – folk, jazz, blues, traditional bluegrass and a capella – will perform at three locations on campus from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Some of the artists also will perform at three locations in downtown Harrisonburg on Friday night.

A dinner and commemorative reunion marking 85 years of the (YPCA), the oldest student-led Christian service and leadership development organization on campus, will be held 5 p.m. Oct. 14 in the University Commons. Reservations are required.

A worship service 10 a.m. Oct. 15 in Lehman Auditorium will have a music and scripture emphasis. Recipients of the (Catherine Mumaw) and (Claude Good, both members of the class of ’54) will be recognized during the service.

Traditional homecoming features will include reunions 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 14 for graduating years ending in a "1" or "6," from 1961 to 2001. The "Jubilee Alumni," persons who attended EMU 50 years ago or more, will hold a luncheon and program at 11:30 a.m. that day at the Eastern Mennonite High School dining room.

David Batstone, an entrepreneur, senior editor of "Worthwhile" magazine and professor of social ethics at the University of San Francisco, will speak at the business and economics department breakfast meeting 8 a.m. Oct. 14 during homecoming weekend.

Breakfast meetings will be held Saturday morning for alumni and friends of the business and economics department; nursing department, the science department, Bible and religion department (Haverim), the music department (Encore!) and the language and literature department.

Outstanding alumni athletes will be recognized at a "hall of honor" breakfast Saturday morning. This year’s inductees are Jill Basinger Mullet of Berlin, Ohio, who played basketball and volleyball, 1981-84; and Tim Cressman from Scottdale, Pa., a track and field standout, 1988-91.

History major and pre-law minor alumni and other interested persons are invited to a special luncheon meeting 12:30 p.m. Oct. 14 to hear guest speakers address vocational, ethical and theological themes within a law-related course of study and career. A new student-led law society, "Res Judicata," is developing on campus in connection with EMU’s pre-law minor.

An art exhibit featuring works by Barb Gaucher, an art teacher at Eastern Mennonite High School, will be on display in the of Hartzler Library. A reception for the artist will be held 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14.

Varsity field hockey, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer games are scheduled on Saturday, preceded by a Loyal Royals "fun run" 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the EMU track.

Activities Include Golf Classic

The Paul R. Yoder, Sr., Memorial Golf Classic will be held Fri., Oct. 13 with start times at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Spotswood Country Club in Harrisonburg.

Special activities for children (kindergarten through fifth grade) and youth (grades 6 through 9) are scheduled at various times Saturday, and childcare for infants through age 5 will be provided during reunions and at other designated times.

The registration desk in the University Commons will be open 3-10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 13, and 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat., Oct. 14.

"It is a totally new venture for EMU to host a ‘Mennofolk’ event on campus as a part of Homecoming and Family Weekend," said Douglas Nyce, director of alumni-parent relations. "We believe that it will be an attraction for many alumni families, as well as for the Harrisonburg/Rockingham community and beyond.

"Hosting a reunion for the Young People’s Christian Association will also be special, because so many EMU alumni took part in YPCA programs during their years as student," Nyce added. "We look forward to seeing many old friends as well as families of current students here on campus. There will be something for everyone to enjoy!"

For more information, go to www.emu.edu/homecoming/, call the alumni office at (540) 432-4245 or e-mail alumni@emu.edu.

Acoustic music festival "" will make its debut in Harrisonburg Nov. 4-6, bringing visual artists, musicians and fans together from across the eastern United States.

This event will offer delightful performances for all ages at venues around the city – from downtown Harrisonburg to Eastern Mennonite High School to local churches.

Most performers have some connection to the Shenandoah Valley, and what brings them together is the experience of roots or membership in the Mennonite Church. A variety of genres are represented, but the common thread is "folk music" written about themes of faith, love and hardships of the everyday life of regular people. Many hymns began as folk songs or take their melodies from older folk tunes.

Using the theme, "Tis a Gift," organizers have encouraged performers to create new music for the festival as well as interpret traditional music. Mennofolk represents a homecoming for many artists.

Featured Artists

J.D. Martin (aka Jerry Derstine)

Headliner Jerry Derstine (stage named JD Martin) grew up near Harrisonburg. At a young age, he wrote several songs which have become well loved among Mennonites, one of thenm included in the latest hymnal for Mennonite and Brethren churches. However, Jerry spent most of his career living and writing music in Nashville and Los Angeles. There he hit the big time, writing songs for Wynnona Judd, Reba McEntire, and Peter Cetera, and had a number of top ten hits to his name.

Now, Jerry returns to his roots, bringing with him recent songs that reach a new level of spirit and hope meant to inspire people towards themes of the heart. He is accompanied by his wife Jan Garrett, a renowned singer-songwriter in her own right, who performs "music for soul retrieval." Garrett will also lead a women’s singing workshop entitled "Finding Your Authentic Voice."

Locals who were in high school or college in the 1970’s may remember a popular Christian band called "Daybreak," which toured in this area. This year, Mennofolk will feature a reunion of the Daybreak band members, some of whom had lost touch with each other but are now coming together for this encore performance.

Reunion Vocal Band

"Reunion Vocal Band" also brings old friends to the stage. For over 20 years this eclectic group has been meeting to perform from all corners of the country. They will play at Mennofolk as their reunion concert of this year, blending folk, spiritual and jazz influences with good old rock and roll.

Appalachian music will take the stage at Mennofolk through Liz McGeachy and Tim Marema’s haunting harmonies, The New Johnson’s fiddle tunes and Alex Albright’s Appalachian Blues. Phil Ruth, a Mennonite historian and dulcimer player from Pennsylvania, claims that the mountain dulcimer may have originated in the Shenandoah Valley, a mix of early Swiss/German and Irish instruments. Dave Landes develops the dulcimer theme further with hymns and folk songs played on a hammered dulcimer, one of many instruments he regularly plays at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton.

Bluegrass fans will be well-satisfied with the sound of local bluegrass/gospel group, "Daphna Creek." "The Goldmine Pickers," a young up-and-coming band from Goshen, Ind., features Jay Lapp, originally of Harrisonburg, and blends newgrass and jazz with a traditional bluegrass idiom. Songwriter Dave Nealon plays bluegrass style and includes banjo and guitar in his set of originals.

Mennofolk will also include "Trent Wagler and the Steel Wheels," with original and American roots music material. Wagler recently made his CD release debut at Court Square Theater.

Musical Styles

Mennonites are known for their tradition of a capella singing, an influential foundation apparent in the harmony focus of many Mennofolk acts. At the festival, this tradition will be explored with performances by "Finely Tuned," "Cantore" and "Sons of the Day." Ruth Stoltzfus Jost will tell the moving story of her family history during the Civil War through a song she sings without accompaniment.

On Sunday, Mennofolk will conclude with the "Festival of Praise" at Park View Mennonite Church, a celebration through men’s choral singing.

Singer-Songwriter styles at Mennofolk range from rock to pop to roots music and include themes of peace, faith and the complexity and beauty of everyday life. Original material will be presented by Chris Kniss, Andru Bemis, Konrad Wert, Brad Yoder, , Heather Kropf, Gina Holsopple and Jonathan Reuel. Saturday night’s Songwriter’s Circle gives a chance to hear a smorgasbord of contemporary music being produced by Mennonite writers.

Visual arts are a special part of Mennofolk Harrisonburg. Oasis Gallery is presenting a show by , and Gusler has coordinated local artists for a show at Eastern Mennonite High School. Art will be for sale, and Artisan’s Hope will create an off-site sale of fairly-traded gifts by artisans from around the world.

Schedule

Mennofolk begins Friday night with concerts downtown at The Children’s Museum, Court Square Theater, Oasis, St Stephens Church, The Little Grill, Luigi’s and the Daily Grind. Saturday during Mennofolk at Eastern Mennonite High School, food will be sold from The Little Grill Collective and music will run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sets will be divided into three stages. A concert/jam session continues after 11 p.m. at Common Grounds Coffeehouse at 草莓社区 featuring the Goldmine Pickers.

Sunday, participants are invited to local churches to hear their favorite Mennofolk musicians play. Sunday afternoon brings "The Bob Show," a Ted and Lee comedy, to the Court Square Theater, Jan Garrett’s women’s singing workshop at Cups to Go, and the Festival of Praise at Parkview Mennonite Church.

A complete schedule and admission prices can be found at: .

Local organizations and business sponsoring Mennofolk are Garrison Press, The Little Grill, Artisan’s Hope, Harrisonburg Downtown Rennaisance, Court Square Theater, 草莓社区’s, Common Grounds Coffeehouse, , Virginia Mennonite Conference, Shalom Congregation, Park View Mennonite Church and the Arts Council of the Valley.

Organizers plan to make Mennofolk a yearly event. To volunteer or make a donation (both provide free admission to the festival) check the Mennofolk website or call Trent Wagler at 540-438-1842.

Three traveling minstrels from Mennofolk, an international Mennonite folk music festival, will perform in at EMU Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 9 p.m. at Common Grounds coffeehouse.

, of Chicago, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and local talent Alex Albright of Harrisonburg will present a song-swapping format, showcasing their unique mix of folk, Appalachian blues and newly-written, funky vintage sounds.

Rachel Ries hails from a Mennonite community in the vast expanses of South Dakota, where she first began raising her melodious and lilting voice while learning to appreciate country living. She currently resides in Chicago’s west side.

Singer Rachel Ries

Ms. Ries is classically trained in voice, piano, violin and viola, but her music has long since evolved into her own, less classifiable, sound – a bit country, a bit lullaby, and maybe a bit siren song. With an adventurous ear for melody and a voice flexible enough to accomplish it, she delivers sweet and often sad, intelligent songs.

Ries has also worked with members of the Goldmine Pickers, an Indiana band that recently played at the Little Grill in Harrisonburg, and together they played well-received shows in Ireland/N. Ireland in November 2003. She will be performing this time with friend Louis Ledford, also from Chicago.

Andru Bemis, another Mennonite performer, has played violin for 22 years, guitar for eight and banjo for two. His self-taught fingerstyle guitar and banjo method and his high plaintive voice immediately set his music apart from that of most contemporary singer-songwriters. Wendy Chappell-Dick, organizer of the Mennofolk festival, describes Bemis as "a young man who sings like a 30