The CONTEMPO Ensemble is a contemporary student music ensemble composed of vocalists and instrumentalists from all musical backgrounds. Their mission is to educate, entertain and inspire as they use music for positive social change. CONTEMPO Ensemble’s repertoire represents a wide variety of styles and genres including popular music, soul, electronic, alternative, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, hip hop, country, and original compositions by ensemble members. Students, in the ensemble, also receive hands-on experience organizing and leading rehearsals, booking performances and tours, along with other leadership duties. The CONTEMPO Ensemble is led by Director of Contemporary Music and Assistant Professor of Contemporary Music Rod Vester, Ph.D.
Meet the Director
Rod Vester is an educator, researcher, entrepreneur, pianist, organist, composer, conductor and producer who excels in gospel, jazz, classical and contemporary music. He has performed with numerous artists, across genres, including Grammy Award winners CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin and the late Aretha Franklin. As an arts consultant, Dr. Vester has helped expand the educational and artistic programming for many organizations and remains an active performer, clinician and speaker who has presented at Chamber Music America, Sphinx and at state and national music education conferences. Vester is committed to creating spaces where all students feel valued, voiced and visible.
Experience Shenandoah Conservatory
SHENANDOAH CONSERVATORY INVITES provides instrumental high school students multiple opportunities each year to make music with Shenandoah faculty, students and ensembles. Musicians playing string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will find events enabling intensive study with Shenandoah’s world-class faculty and the opportunity to make music alongside current conservatory students. Each of these events take place on Shenandoah’s beautiful Winchester campus.