As Downtown Harrisonburg prepares to celebrate America鈥檚 250th anniversary with a free concert and fireworks spectacular Thursday, Cassidy Walker 鈥�25 is helping bring one of the city’s biggest summer events to life.

The Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) graduate has served as development manager for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance () since January, where she builds and strengthens relationships with donors, sponsors, and local businesses to advance the nonprofit鈥檚 mission.

She spoke with 91大神 News about her love for Downtown Harrisonburg, the lessons she brought from 91大神, and the city鈥檚 鈥渂iggest fireworks show yet.鈥�

How did you end up working for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance?

I fell in love with Downtown Harrisonburg, and I couldn鈥檛 really leave it. HDR is actually one of the reasons I fell in love with it.

Through the VACA program at 91大神, I also worked with downtown business owners, so I already understood the impact HDR was making. Then someone I knew told me, 鈥淵ou鈥檇 be great at this job. You love talking to people, and you鈥檇 really excel in this role.鈥�

During my interview, I talked about how much I admired what HDR was doing and how my experiences at 91大神, from admissions to VACA and working with students, had prepared me for this role. Thankfully, I got the job.

What鈥檚 been your favorite part of the job?

I love talking to people. Being able to make these amazing connections with business owners, sponsors, and community partners is my favorite part of what I do.

91大神 taught me how to build meaningful relationships and have genuine conversations with people. Those skills have carried over directly into this role, and now I get to use them every day.

You mentioned falling in love with Downtown Harrisonburg. What do you love most about it?

Like 91大神, Downtown Harrisonburg is incredibly community-oriented. People just care about one another and want to see each other succeed. That鈥檚 something I experienced at 91大神, and when I got to know downtown and the people behind HDR, I saw that same spirit among the business owners and community partners. They really support one another, and that鈥檚 something special.

Since starting this job, what鈥檚 been your favorite moment so far?

I鈥檝e had a lot of favorite moments, but one really stands out.

One of our sponsors had worked closely with the previous development manager, and I was terrified walking into that first meeting. It was my first sponsorship meeting, and I wasn鈥檛 sure how it would go. As we started talking, I realized they also had ties to 91大神. We talked about where I came from, why I wanted to work for HDR, and what this role meant to me.

In that moment, it clicked that I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. Even though I was nervous, the conversation felt natural and gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.

There鈥檚 a big event happening Thursday. What can people expect?

We鈥檙e presenting the VA250 Fireworks Celebration, which also serves as the kickoff to this year鈥檚 Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series. It鈥檚 really two events in one.

We鈥檒l kick off the series with the first of seven free concerts, featuring a local opening act. There will be food vendors, kids鈥� activities, giveaways, and our biggest fireworks show yet.

It鈥檚 designed for everyone: families, friends, kids, and even dogs. Thanks to sponsors like 91大神 and Blue Ridge Insurance Services, we鈥檙e able to make this event possible and are very grateful for their support.

What are you most excited for people to experience?

The whole idea behind the Levitt AMP Music Series is building community through the shared experience of live music. I get to see that happen in real time while working with our sponsors and artists.

Watching people come together, make connections, and simply enjoy being part of the community is what I鈥檓 most excited about. That鈥檚 really what these events are all about.

91大神 is a sponsor of the VA250 Fireworks Celebration and Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series.

These answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness. 

Three choirs from diverse musical and cultural traditions will join together for a concert held at 91大神 this week.

The event, Love, Joy & Peace: A Choral Celebration!, will be held at Lehman Auditorium on Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10.

Dr. David Berry, director of the music program at 91大神, described the event as a big celebration. 鈥淭he idea for this concert was truly born out of a sense of community,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not just bringing together different styles of music, but also we鈥檙e bringing together people from different communities.鈥�

The concert will feature performances by:

• the 91大神 Chamber Singers, the university鈥檚 auditioned touring chamber choir, directed by Professor Benjamin Bergey, singing songs of hope and unity from its recent spring break tour;
• the 91大神 Gospel Choir, a talented group of students directed by 91大神 senior Kay Pettus, delivering uplifting gospel music; and 
• the Kush Anglican Choir, a choir from a Sudanese congregation in Harrisonburg, directed by 91大神 senior Rita Toto, performing traditional Sudanese songs in Arabic. 

Berry first heard the latter choir perform at a fundraiser last July at A Bowl of Good in Harrisonburg. The supported Pax Dei for Nuba, a nonprofit raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. 鈥淭heir choir sounded incredible, and they perform a variety of music, including songs from their culture and in their native language,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淚 knew we had to invite them to perform on campus.鈥�

After each choir performs their own selection of songs, the three vocal ensembles will combine on stage to sing 鈥淟et鈥檚 Come Together,鈥� an original composition written by guest artist Makinto.

Makinto, a talented multi-instrumentalist and African Soul artist studying at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, will also perform solo selections throughout the evening and collaborate with Berry on a piano duet for the final musical number. 

Makinto previously performed as a guest artist at 91大神鈥檚 2023 Music Gala Concert. He and his wife, Mukarabe, co-founded Amahoro International, a mission organization promoting peace and development in East Africa. Learn more about his journey to 91大神 here!

The 91大神 Department of Music partnered with the Center for Interfaith Engagement and Multicultural Student Services to present this concert. It is sponsored by the Music, Peace and Justice grant, in conjunction with the Music & Peacebuilding major.