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, educator, and church musician. 

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Bergey is assistant professor of music at EMU, where he directs the choirs and orchestra, and teaches courses on music theory and conducting. He is an active musician who is the conductor of the Rapidan Orchestra in Orange, VA and assistant conductor of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival in Harrisonburg, VA.

 

Dr. Bergey 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 and Puccini's La Bohème. 

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Additionally, Bergey is a prominent music leader in the Mennonite Church, having 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. 

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Bergey is married to his wife, Kate, who together have a daughter and a son, and they love to garden, bike, hike, and travel.