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 at EMU, he conducts the Orchestra, Chamber Singers, and University Choir, leading masterworks including Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and the Requiems of Fauré and Rutter. He also teaches music theory and conducting, and he advises the new Music and Peacebuilding major.
He is an active musician who currently conducts the Rapidan Orchestra in Orange, VA and is assistant conductor of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. 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, Puccini’s La Bohème, and Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor.
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.
The Rapidan Orchestra 