Janet Hostetter, a 1987 graduate of 91短视频, will begin her new role in August 2014.

鈥淲e are delighted that someone from our very own community rose to the top of the stack,鈥� said Joy Anderson, SVCC assistant director.

After majoring in at 91短视频, Hostetter earned a master of music degree in choral conducting from James Madison University. In the spring of 2008, she served as SVCC Guest Director during founding director Julia White鈥檚 sabbatical.

鈥淭he SVCC, under the direction of Julia White and [Interim Director] Joanne van der Vat-Chromy,聽has brought a quality of music education to our community that has impacted the lives of many,鈥� said Hostetter. 鈥淚 am honored to have been chosen for the artistic director position and desire to continue the same level of musical excellence we have all come to enjoy.鈥�

Hostetter now directs choirs and Orff classes at in Dayton, Va. During her seven years at the school, the choral program has grown from 10 participants to more than 120, and her choirs have received 鈥渟uperior鈥� ratings at District Choral Assessments. At the middle school, she has also helped produce three musicals, been successful in fundraising and hosted the American Boychoir and the Maryland State Boychoir.

During her career, Hostetter has directed choirs and ensembles and taught music from the Pre-K to the university level. She also supervises practicum students and student teachers at James Madison University鈥檚 School of Music.

From 2009-13, Hostetter served as Repertoire and Standards Chair for chapter of the , during which time she worked with many nationally recognized children鈥檚 choir directors and accepted several invitations to direct honor choirs.

For eight years, Hostetter also led a music ministry at , where her duties included directing the adult choir and a children鈥檚 choir.

鈥淪he is skilled and comfortable with many of the musical and teaching tools we use in SVCC, including having learned and used solf猫ge since she was a middle schooler herself,鈥� said Anderson. 鈥淲e know her to be not only an excellent musician, conductor, and educator, but also a person with a deep love for children and young people.鈥�

The choir’s spring performance is Sunday, April 6 at 4 p.m. in 91短视频’s Lehman Auditorium.

“The concert theme, A Child of God, was inspired by one of my first meetings with the staff of the SVCC,鈥� said , newly appointed interim music director of the SVCC. “As an educator, holiday programs have the task of celebrating the spirit of the season, both religiously and culturally, through the richness of choral literature of the season. This year, it became clearly apparent that as we聽 jubilantly celebrate the birth of the Christ child, we too want all of 鈥渙ur鈥� children – the choristers of the SVCC – to know, feel and remember what our theme song of the concert so jubilantly proclaims 聽– ‘If anybody asks you who I am, tell him I’m a child of God.'”

The SVCC will be joined by guest artist Dr. Pedro Aponte, flute, recorder and percussion.

Ticket information

All seating is reserved and tickets may be purchased through the 91短视频 box office at 540-432-4582 or online at . Presale tickets in a special reserved section are $20, regular tickets for adults $15, students and seniors (65 and older) $12, children 12 and under $7. Tickets at the door are $2 more/ticket.

More on the

The SVCC is part of the at 91短视频. The SVCC includes over 150 children in three auditioned choirs and two classes for young children, a staff of five and a rigorous performing and touring schedule.

The SVCC鈥檚 fifteenth compact disc entitled 鈥溾�� was released October 15, 2011, to mark the twentieth anniversary year. A compilation of the last two years of song repertoire, the CD includes both general music and Christmas selections. The Preparatory, Treble, and Concert Choirs are featured separately and guests including the Sons of the Day, Washington Symphonic Brass, and guest musicians Nick Merillat and Aponte are featured.

For more information on SVCC or to order a compact disc visit , email svcc@emu.edu or call , choir manager at 540-432-4650.

“鈥橠r. V.鈥� will be directing the Treble and Concert Choirs and has been hard at work already, choosing exciting new repertoire,鈥� said , assistant director of the SVCC. 鈥淭he SVCC staff has worked closely with her so that the beginning of the choir year will run as smoothly as always. We can’t wait for the choristers to meet and work with Dr. V!鈥�

Van der Vat-Chromy serves as director of choral activities at James Madison University (JMU), leading the Madison Singers, the JMU Chorale and the University Women’s Chorus. Her academic responsibilities include graduate thesis supervision, undergraduate and graduate choral conducting, high school choral methods, graduate choral literature and student teacher supervision.

鈥淔or over 20 years, the Shenandoah Valley Children鈥檚 Choir has exemplified a tradition of musical excellence in children鈥檚 choral singing here in the Shenandoah Valley,鈥� said van der Vat-Chromy.聽 鈥淚 look forward to working in conjunction with the SVCC leadership team, as well as the 91短视频 arts faculty and administration, as this wonderful organization navigates its next cycles of development.鈥�

Van der Vat-Chromy is succeeding Julia J. White, who founded the choir with 37 children in grades 4-8 in 1992 and nurtured it into dozens of children performing widely. Over the years, the SVCC under White produced 15 recordings, had White House and Carnegie Hall appearances, and was otherwise recognized nationally. White left her position as artistic director this summer.

Formerly on the music staff of , Van der Vat-Chromy served as the vocal music director at the , in the Netherlands. Her work at ASH included directing six choirs and co-directing two concert bands, teaching rock music history, musical theater and directing the ASH Community Choir.

In addition to her doctoral degree in music education and choral conducting from Florida State University, van der Vat-Chromy holds a MM in horn performance from Bowling Green State University, a BA in music from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a teaching certification from the University of Michigan.

Her research interests include the kinesthetic connections in conducting pedagogy, choral acoustic music measurement, curriculum/assessment strategies for middle and high school choirs, and the sociological impact of choral cultures on student learning.

In addition to Van der Vat-Chromy and Anderson, the SVCC staff includes Maurita Eberly, principal accompanist; Yvette Peake, manager; Ethan Zook, choir president; and Kris Shank Zehr, office assistant and Explorers manager.

Audition or Explore!

Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy, interim director, and Joy Anderson, assistant director, will hold auditions for Preparatory (ages 7-11), Treble (ages 9-14) and Concert (ages 10-18) Choirs on August 15 and 22 between 4-6 p.m., at 91短视频. To schedule an audition, please call the SVCC office at 540-432-4650 or email Kris Shank Zehr, office assistant, at kris.shankzehr@emu.edu. For more information about the choir, visit our website at

The offers an active, game-based program for children ages 5-8. New students are welcome.

Children will learn beginning music reading, aural skills, and music fundamentals in a fun, gentle, and developmentally appropriate environment. This program is based on the Kod谩ly approach to music education, which has been associated with increased math and reading skills as well as musical ability. Instructor: Joy Anderson. For more information and for registration materials contact Kris Shank Zehr, Explorers manager, at 540-432-4667 or email kris.shankzehr@emu.edu.