草莓社区’s recipients of the annual Excellence in Teaching Awards for 2021 are:

• in the Tenured Faculty category, Martha Greene Eads, PhD, professor of English,
• in the Pre-tenure Faculty category, Leah Kratz, assistant professor of business and leadership,
• in the Adjunct Instructor category, Robert Curry, adjunct music faculty and director of the jazz ensemble and wind ensemble. 

The award honors the gifts of faculty across all the positional categories of employment. Criteria include impact on students, effective teaching practices, subject knowledge and continual growth, including a commitment to professional and pedagogical development.

The selection process began with nominations from the campus community. A committee appointed by the Faculty Senate reviewed the nominations and selected the honorees.  

“Much gratitude was expressed by the selection committee to these educators  for the ways they go above and beyond in their service to students and this learning community,” said Professor Tim Seidel, who chaired the committee. “It was such a privilege to read through all of the nominations and get just a small glimpse into all of the incredible work our teachers are doing at EMU.”

Tenured Faculty: Martha Greene Eads, PhD

Eads joined the EMU faculty in 2003, after teaching at the North Carolina Correctional Center for Women and at Valparaiso University in Indiana, where she held a Lilly Fellowship in Humanities and the Arts from 2001-03. 

She’s introduced a number of innovative literature courses during her time at EMU, getting students out into the community to experience the themes they’re studying, and collaborating across disciplines to co-teach with music and physical education faculty. 

(For a few examples, read up on her students’ pilgrimage to a local graveyard of enslaved persons, her sabbatical work studying historic harms and trauma, and a bibliotherapy program Eads started with a nearby retirement community.)

Even through online learning, “she was also so cheery and interactive, encouraging us to speak up and get to know our classmates,” wrote one student-nominator. “I can confidently say that the class which allowed me to build the deepest relationships was Marti’s class. She gave us so many opportunities for group discussions and made sure that none of us felt lonely because of online learning.”

Another noted how much extra effort Eads puts into her students “to make them better readers, writers, and scholars. She leads by example and her enthusiasm for education and literature is infectious.”

Eads earned a doctoral degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in religion from Wake Forest University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Wake Forest University. 

Pre-tenure Faculty: Leah Kratz

Kratz began teaching accounting courses at EMU in 2007. Previously, she was the assistant fiscal director of Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, and worked in public accounting.

Both student and faculty nominators noted the deep relationships Kratz forms with her students.

“Before COVID, she regularly had students over to her house for meals, and develops a community, family-like feel to the accounting major,” wrote a colleague. “She arranges visits with people in industry so that her students are set up with internships, ready for graduate school, and for the standardized exams.”

“She makes it so we become an accounting family, not just classmates,” wrote a student.

She’s introduced several specialized accounting courses to the program, including classes on nonprofit and governmental accounting. 

“I absolutely love teaching accounting. I feel like God put me on this Earth to spread the good news of accounting,” Kratz said. “Being a small major, we really become a close-knit group. We spend a lot of time together. Watching students from the beginning of the process when they are discovering what accounting is, to seeing them make connections and eventually excel in the major and profession excites me every day. It is why I love coming to class.”

Kratz earned a master of business administration degree from James Madison University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from EMU.

Adjunct Instructor: Robert Curry

Curry began teaching studio lessons at EMU about eight years ago, but he said the “real work” began in 2016, when he was asked to reinvigorate the Jazz Ensemble that had lay dormant for 12 years. He brought 41 years of experience teaching public school music, as well as performing, conducting, and arranging symphonic, jazz, and orchestra music. 

He retired at the end of the spring semester, and was independently nominated by five students and three colleagues for the Excellence in Teaching Award.

“He has gone above and beyond to get us to have the best experience that we can get in our ensemble. He is very knowledgeable in his field as well as in life,” wrote one student.

“He often goes above and beyond the call of duty in mentoring students and helping them gain a practical working knowledge of important information they will need as music teachers 鈥� he is in many ways a reliable and tireless ‘utility infielder’ for our department,” wrote a colleague.

“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Robert Curry,” said another student, who also studied under his tutelage in high school before coming to EMU. “He truly cares about the lives and well being of each of his students and wants them to become the best versions of themselves.”

Curry, in turn, had praise for his proteg茅s. 

“One thing I always enjoyed at EMU was that the students were willing to try anything I threw at them, whether it be in the Jazz Ensemble or Wind Ensemble,” he said. “With COVID especially, I had to find unusual music for the Wind Ensemble to perform because of how the disease affected enrollment. They rose to the occasion. Students in the Jazz Ensemble were always willing to try a new or different improvisation technique to enhance their performance.”

Curry earned a master’s degree in music education from Brigham Young University and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Butler University.

This year鈥檚 Selection Committee members were Carrie Bert, athletics representative; Shannon Cooper, Student Government Association representative; Micah Shristi, Student Life representative); Daniel Showalter, faculty, 2020 awardee; Bonnie Yoder, faculty, 2020 awardee; and Timothy Seidel, committee chair, Faculty Senate representative. 

The committee received 74 nominations for 42 different teachers this year, with 75% of nominations coming from students. 

David Berry, chair of 草莓社区鈥檚 music department, makes no secret of the vision behind the university鈥檚 upcoming made-for-broadcast special premiere of the annual Gala Concert.

Always the highlight of 贰惭鲍鈥檚 thriving musical culture, this year鈥檚 gala will be a 鈥渕agnificent evening of music,鈥� Berry said, adding that its inspiration comes from arts broadcasts such as the Kennedy Center Honors. And for musicians who have been unable to perform in front of live audiences, the event offers a rare opportunity for artistic collaboration. That joy alone, notes Berry, is worth tuning in for.

鈥淲e want this evening to offer a much-needed message of hope and inspiration for uncertain times through a wide array of beautiful, exciting, and eclectic musical performances,鈥� he said in a recent interview.

Register to watch via Zoom at and participate in a special talkback after the show.

The gala (but NOT the talkback) will be streamed on on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. [Note that you do not need a Facebook account to access the page.]

The concert is free, with 100% of donations benefiting the EMU music student scholarship fund. Please consider giving at least the price of a ticket to the .

Just as in last year鈥檚 sensational performance with Phantom of the Opera star Janinah Burnett, the concert will feature the EMU Jazz Band, the Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers and the EMU Orchestra along with faculty soloists and special guest artists.

鈥淭his year, we welcome The Steel Wheels and AppalAsia, two acclaimed groups which will bring a new flavor of roots music and world music to our gala stage,鈥� Berry said.

Classical music radio host Kimberlea Daggy, of the NPR affiliates WMRA/WEMC, will emcee the event for the second consecutive year. Daggy and the Steel Wheels’ Trent Wagler ’02 will join Berry for a 30-minute talkback after the concert.

The, the nationally recognized Shenandoah Valley-based roots music band and a longtime favorite of EMU audiences, is comprised of alumni Wagler, Eric Brubaker 鈥�01, and Brian Dickel 鈥�98, as well as bandmates Jay Lapp and Kevin Garcia. They鈥檒l join the EMU orchestra to give the premiere performance of a new arrangement of “Sing Me Like a Folk Song,” a track off their 2017 studio album “Wild As We Came Here.” []

is a Pittsburgh-based trio that one music critic has hailed as 鈥溾�� he鈥檇 ever heard. The band blends instruments of Western and Eastern origin, combining the traditional Chinese two-stringed fiddle (the erhu), played by Mimi Jong, with the dulcimer and banjo, played by Jeff Berman and Sue Powers, respectively.

Music faculty Berry and Kim Souther will play an original version of Libertango by the celebrated Argentinian composer Astor Piazzola. 

Berry is an active concert pianist whose performances have been featured in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Kimmel Center.

Souther, a multi-style cellist who has toured with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is the newest member of the EMU music faculty and serves as director of the Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music program.

Award-winning baritone and voice professor James Richardson will pair with soprano Kiara Kiah 鈥�20 in a duet from Mozart鈥檚 The Magic Flute accompanied by the EMU Orchestra. Kiah was a winner in the Mid-Atlantic Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition and is a 2020 Cords of Distinction recipient, an honor that recognizes graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the university, community or society.  

Led by faculty conductors Benjamin Bergey and Robert Curry, the student ensembles will present a variety of choral and instrumental musical selections ranging from the music of Beethoven through classic jazz standards.

Thanks to our sponsor!

First published 10/26/2020.

“Simply magical,” says Professor David Berry in recollection of last weekend’s Gala concert at 草莓社区. “It is rarer than rare to have a consummate artist who has graced the finest concert stages in the world not only come to a university to teach and inspire students, but then also to perform with them. The gala was a beautiful vision of what it means for us at EMU to lead together in the arts in our new era.”

Approximately 550 eager listeners packed Lehman Auditorium for the annual event, which brought in $2,800 in support of music department scholarships.

Janinah Burnett, currently starring on Broadway in Phantom of the Opera, dazzled, as did EMU’s orchestra, wind ensemble and choirs.

Host Kimberlea Daggy, public radio classical music program announcer and producer, brought both enthusiasm and joy to the evening, sharing her own delight in the performances as she introduced each selection.

Enjoy this photoessay of the evening.

A Night at the Gala: Photos by Macson McGuigan

Professor James Richardson, wearing appropriate attire, begins the celebratory evening with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Fin ch’han dal vino” from Don Giovanni.

Professor Benjamin Bergey directs the EMU University Choir and Chamber Orchestra in performing Requiem by John Rutter. The Chamber Singers also joined in this selection.

Soprano Leah Wenger, a music performance and psychology double major, sings a solo in Requiem. Cellist Patrick Bellah, an adjunct faculty member and professional musician, was the second soloist.

Isaac Andreas, principal second violin.

Benjamin Bergey conducts the EMU Chamber Orchestra. “Both the orchestra and the choirs rose to the challenge of this hauntingly beautiful masterwork,” he said.

Ben Bontrager-Singer, cello.

Janinah Burnett performed two arias, “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from La Rondine and “Ah! fors’e lui” / Sempre libera” from La Traviata. conductor Benjamin Bergey recalled, “It was an amazing, professional-level experience for our orchestra to only briefly rehearse the evening before with a professional singer on something as difficult as an opera aria and have it go well.”

EMU’s Lehman Auditorium was filled with an eager audience, ready after intermission for more of what Benjamin Bergey described as “a wonderful evening of diverse music-making.”

Burnett performed a Joseph Joubert arrangement of the Ella Fitzgerald jazz classic”How High the Moon,” lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis, and “Almighty God,” one of Duke Ellington’s three Sacred Concerts, with the EMU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Robert Curry. Sarah Ressler was the clarinet soloist. 

“The selection ‘Almighty God’ is rarely performed music, so studying and performing was challenging and rewarding,” said Robert Curry, rehearsing the selection here with the jazz ensemble and Chamber Singers. “It was a thrill to perform with a talented professional like Janinah Burnett.”

Burnett shares the applause with the jazz ensemble and Chamber Singers after her last selection, “Almighty God.” Pianist and EMU music professor David Berry, who shares a friendship with Burnett going back to their days at Eastman School of Music, is at right.

Senior Robert Chaplin performs the famous solo from the beginning of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”

David Berry, with Robert Curry and the EMU Jazz Ensemble, performs “Rhapsody in Blue.” Curry noted that “recreating the early 1920s sound of the original jazzy version” was a challenge. “David and I talked several times about interpretation and style, all in an effort to make the performance as much like the original as possible.”

Musicians share their mutual appreciation at the end of “Rhapsody in Blue.”

The audience gives final thanks to EMU faculty members (from left) James Richardson, David Berry, Robert Curry, Benjamin Bergey and gala host Kimberlea Daggy.

With special thanks to our sponsor:

Metropolitan Opera star , currently appearing in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, will be the featured artist. The acclaimed soprano will perform classic arias of Puccini and Verdi, as well as jazz showstoppers by Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, accompanied by the university orchestra and jazz band. 

Burnett says she鈥檚 鈥渢hrilled to be joining EMU for the gala,鈥� and is bringing some of her favorites to the occasion, including “Sempre Libera” from Verdi鈥檚 La Traviata, the jazz selection “Almighty God” from Duke Ellington鈥檚 Sacred Concerts followed by 鈥渁 hot rendition鈥� of “How High the Moon.”

鈥淢s. Burnett鈥檚 presence makes this a concert event unlike any we have ever had at EMU,鈥� said Professor David Berry, who chairs the music department and will perform as well. 鈥淲e鈥檙e fortunate to have a musician of her caliber sharing her immense talents on the same stage with our student musicians.鈥�

Beginning her professional performance career as Mim矛 in Baz Luhrmann鈥檚 presentation of Puccini鈥檚 La Boh猫me on Broadway, Burnett received tremendous acclaim winning the Los Angeles Stage Alliance鈥檚 鈥淥vation Award鈥� with a record 82 consecutive sold-out shows. She joined the Metropolitan Opera in 2008 for their productions of Carmen and La Boh猫me, and has since returned for Parsifal, Le Nozze di Figaro, La Rondine, The Enchanted Island, Iphig茅nie en Tauride, Elektra and Manon. She recently sang in a revival presentation of the opera Voodoo by the prolific Harlem Renaissance composer, Harry Lawrence Freeman.

Berry was an undergraduate student at the Eastman School of Music when Burnett was in graduate school. The friends also performed together in New York City with the Harlem Chamber Players.

WMRA public radio鈥檚 will host the evening, which includes a full slate of talented professional musicians on faculty, as well as many student musicians and others from the local community.

Professor James Richardson, baritone, will perform music from Mozart鈥檚 Don Giovanni and the University Choir will present John Rutter鈥檚 hauntingly beautiful 鈥淩equiem.鈥� Berry, on the piano, and the EMU Wind Ensemble will conclude the evening with a rousing presentation of Gershwin鈥檚 Rhapsody in Blue.聽

The concert is sponsored by BB&T.

More on Janinah Burnett

Currently making appearances as 鈥淐arlotta Giudicelli鈥� in the iconic musical theater masterpiece Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, Burnett made her MET debut as Bianca in La Rondine. In addition to Voodoo, recent performances include singing in Victory Hall Opera鈥檚 inaugural presentation of Der Rosenkavalier as Sophie, for which she was featured on the cover of the Arts and Style section of the Washington post. 

Performances on operatic stages internationally and domestically in various starring roles include: theTh茅芒tre du Ch芒telet in Paris; the Teatro dell鈥橭pera di Roma; Spoleto Festival U.S.A.; the Michigan Opera Theatre; with operas in Arizona, Baltimore, Manitoba, Cleveland, Nashville and Columbus and in concert with The Israel Symphony Orchestra in Tel Aviv and Rishon LeZion with Mo. Asher Fisch.

She has performed in solo musical performances with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in their opening gala; Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 Mass with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; debuting the role of Harriet Tubman in the World Premier presentation of Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed that Road to Freedom with American Opera Projects and singing Marguerite in Faust with Opera Toledo.

Burnett was named Artist of the Year at Syracuse Opera for her revered role debut as Le茂la in Les P锚cheurs de Perles which she later reprised at Opera Carolina. A former member of the sister group to Three Mo鈥� Tenors entitled Three Mo鈥� Divas, Burnett gave two performances of her own jazz arrangements with her band entitled The Janinah Burnet Quartet at the Cell Theater in NYC and gave a self titled, sold out solo jazz show at the Metropolitan Room. She is a featured singer in the Spike Lee film Red Hook Summer, has performed on the Tony Awards, and is featured on the La Boh茅me on Broadway cast recording. 

Burnett is currently producing performances of her own writings with art songs, freedom songs and spirituals entitled I, Too Sing America: A Lament for the Fallen which seeks to provide quality performances rooted in education, activism, committed artistic expression, and healing. 

With thanks to major sponsor

Harrisonburg a cappella groups Cantore, Shekinah and Striking Accord will each perform, as will 贰惭鲍鈥檚 student ensemble Emulate 鈥� and the Bubble Sisters with the EMU Jazz Ensemble. All will join ranks for the evening鈥檚 final number.

In between sets, alumni will lead the audience in singing hymns.

Tickets are $10 in advance/$15 at the door. EMU students and children 12 and under are free.聽 Register for this and other events at www.emu.edu/homecoming.

The Bubble Sisters 鈥� at Homecoming they will include Ruby Kauffman 鈥�87 Hostetler, Candace Ross 鈥�87 Ross-Cleary and Wendy Noll 鈥�86 Martin 鈥� under the direction of Professor Stephen Sachs. A means of differentiating the EMU jazz ensemble from that of Goshen College, the trio added vocal solos, harmonies and scatting. By 1993, their name had changed to the Swing Sisters. The current Jazz Ensemble is directed by Robert Curry.

Since 2002 the all-male has performed over 300 times and released six albums. Its varied repertoire includes standard religious choral works, bluegrass gospel, spirituals, hymn arrangements and more. Current members are Don Bomberger 鈥�72, David Clymer, Jim Hershberger 鈥�82 MAC 鈥�97, Sam Kauffman 鈥�12, Phil Kniss 鈥�82, Robert Maust 鈥�72, Jeff Myers 鈥�89, Jeremy Nafziger 鈥�91 and Jeffrey Smoker 鈥�16.

assembled in 2003 for an EMU chapel service, and since then has since performed numerous concerts and released seven albums of songs such as 鈥淗ere Comes the Sun,鈥� 鈥淥 Magnum Mysterium鈥� and 鈥淗ow Deep the Father鈥檚 Love For Us.鈥� The all-female ensemble took second place in the April 2018 Shenandoah Valley Sing Off, and currently is comprised of Greta Shenk 鈥�10 Bucher, Maria Clymer 鈥�00 Clymer Kurtz, Katie Derstine 鈥�05, Caitlin Holsapple 鈥�16, Chelsea Mast 鈥�09, Ranene Schrock 鈥�98 Ropp, Selah Shenk 鈥�11 and Joanna Souder 鈥�04 Showalter.

formed earlier this year. Its debut performance featured music from a variety of eras and genres from the Renaissance to modern pop. The all-male ensemble includes Jon Bishop 鈥�17, Sam Kauffman 鈥�12, Joel Rittenhouse 鈥�13, Justin Rittenhouse 鈥�12, Clay Showalter 鈥�02, Jeffrey Smoker 鈥�16, Jared Stutzman and Joel Thomas.

贰惭鲍鈥檚 Emulate Chamber Ensemble is directed by Professor Ryan Keebaugh, whose conducting has been described as 鈥渆xpressive, concise, insightful and sensitive.鈥� The auditioned group has performed at the Washington National Cathedral, and currently includes Asha Beck, Josh Holsapple, Ally Mankamyer, Luke Mullet, Karina Pidroutchniak, Anna Ressler, Partha Roy, Joseph Seitz, Leah Wenger and Lucas Wenger.

The EMU Jazz Ensemble includes students Joshua Ayers, Bruce Cypress, James Dunmore, Leah Lapp, Jonathan Larsen, Joshua Overacker, Kaitlin Parker, Madalynn Payne, Sarah Ressler, Avery Trinh, and alumni Craig Hofstetter, Evan Knappenberger and Sam Kauffman. Read about their 2017 revitalization.

The drummer taps out an energetic pace on the high hat. The piano comes in, low and funky, with an ascending chord pattern. Then the horns: trombones elaborating on the piano riff, followed by trumpets flinging out the jaunty melody.

, conductor, waves his hand to cut off the music, and gives instructions on how to improve their timing and intonation. They play the intro again, and again, tightening the sound each time. Curry suggests the drummer try a swing rhythm. Then, the saxophonists return from their private lesson, the drums begin again, and Lehman auditorium erupts with the groovy jazz-fusion tune of “Birdland.”

草莓社区鈥檚 big jazz band is in rehearsal.

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those songs that you can 鈥� this may sound weird, but you can start to feel the music when you play it. That鈥檚 how you know it鈥檚 a good song,鈥� says Leah Lapp, a freshman biochemistry major and an alto saxophone player in the 15-member jazz band.

From small combos to big band

Junior started the band last December, after playing in small jazz combos at EMU and missing the big bands he experienced in high school. Joan Griffing, chair of the , connected him with Curry, who has given private trombone lessons and taught the brass methods course at EMU for several years. Griffing says she was pleased with Horsts鈥� initiative.

鈥淲e’ve had a terrific small jazz combo under the top-notch direction of Mark Whetzel for many years,鈥� says Griffing. 鈥淗arrison’s request for a big band lined up well with Mark’s retirement and Bob Curry’s availability to direct. The new band is off to a great start!鈥�

EMU’s first jazz ensemble was directed by Stephen Sachs from 1982-2004. When he departed, Mark Whetzel took over. The small jazz combo tradition continued for many years, until Horst came along.

鈥淸Curry] really knows his stuff and is really pushing us to get better,鈥� says Horst, who plays tenor saxophone in the jazz band. 鈥淎nd that means a lot to me, that I鈥檓 a part of a group that wants to succeed.鈥�

Alto saxophonist Josh Ayers, a freshman computer science major, agrees: 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e got a really good direction going with Bob.鈥�

Student-musicians ‘willing to take a risk’

Curry comes with 41 years of experience conducting middle and high school bands in Colorado, Utah, and Shenandoah County, Virginia. He retired from public school education in June, while still teaching a class at Bridgewater College, giving private lessons, playing in the local group 鈥� (which was started at EMU in 2000) and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Curry has played trombone since elementary school.

鈥淥ne of the things I really enjoy about the students here is that they鈥檙e not hesitant to take a chance, and maybe embarrass themselves, by maybe doing something that doesn鈥檛 quite fit the first time,鈥� says Curry. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e just saying, 鈥榦kay, that didn鈥檛 work. I鈥檒l use that as a learning experience, and next time I鈥檒l do something different when I have the same kind of solo opportunity.鈥欌��

Says Ayers, 鈥淚 definitely enjoy the freedom of jazz.鈥� Curry starts each rehearsal with scales and improvisation exercises. Then, they practice a wide repertoire of swing, funk, rock, and Latin jazz of all tempos.

Many of the students bring instrumental experience but are new to jazz, like math education sophomore Madalynn Payne, who has played trumpet for seven years. Sophomore biology major Isaac McCauley played euphonium in high school, then taught himself trombone over the past three years before joining jazz band.

The band鈥檚 first performance was at the Honors Weekend banquet, after just four rehearsals. They have played two informal noon events and at inauguration this week. An April 20 concert will be 7:30 p.m., in Lehman Auditorium along with Just Jazzin鈥�.

Want to share a story about your years in the jazz band, with Swing Sisters, Bubble Sister or jazz combos? Share in the space below or at our website, .