Shenandoah Conservatory hosted its annual Conservatory Convocation last week, welcoming both returning and incoming students with an exhilarating start to the new academic year. The lively program featured an impressive array of music, theatre and dance performances by students and faculty. Highlights included

• A celebratory prelude and fanfare featuring the Trombone Collective (led by Director of Jazz & Commercial Music and Associate Professor of Trombone Matthew Niess, D.M.A.) and music composed by Brandon DuBritton ’27 (Bachelor of Music in Performance)
• An energetic rendition of ‘We Got the Beat’ from the musical “Head Over Heels” performed by a musical theatre ensemble and band in a special arrangement by Music Director and Professor of Theatre Patrick Brady and featuring choreography by Coordinator of Musical Theatre Dance and Associate Professor of Dance & Musical Theatre Shylo Martinez, M.F.A.
• A collaborative performance with the Dance Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble in “Clapback” which featured choreography by former dance faculty member Daniel Padierna set to Jlin’s composition for percussion quartet, “Soulfood”
• A reflective “In C Interlude” by Michael Nyman performed by the EDGE Ensemble, Shenandoah’s in-house new music group featuring students and faculty
• A masterful piano duo performance of Georges Bizet’s ‘Le Bal’ from “Jeux d’enfants”
• A captivating performance of the American folk song “Shenandoah” as arranged by James Erb and performed by the Conservatory Choir under the direction of Choral Artist-in-Residence, Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor Richard W. Robbins, D.M.A.
• A rousing closing from a New Orleans brass band, spotlighting “Big Chief” and featuring a host of jazz talent

The event also featured a warm welcome from Shenandoah Conservatory Student Council President Eliahna Heimann ’26 (Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Musicianship & Entrepreneur Development) and a special introduction from Shenandoah Conservatory Dean and Professor of Music Jennifer Smolos Steele, Ph.D. This year’s program culminated with Broadway actress and singer Mandy Gonzalez as she delivered the keynote address, offering inspiration to our conservatory community for the year ahead.