A. Steve Jennings

Stephens City, VA

Steve was born in Newport News, Virginia where he attended the area public schools, graduating from Menchville High School in 1975.  He earned his Bachelors of Music Education 1980, his Master of Music Education in 1987, and his DMA in Music Education in 2004.  He did post-graduate work in Special Education at George Mason University and taught special education in the Winchester/Frederick County area, in both private and public schools for ten years.  

In 1993, Dr. Jennings became choral director and special education teacher for students with learning disabilities and emotional handicaps at the newly opened Sherando High School, in Frederick County, Virginia where he continues to teach today.  Steve was the director of the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Sweet Adeline International Inc., in Winchester, and Choral Director at Woodstock Christian Church in Woodstock, Virginia, was adjunct professor of music at Lord Fairfax Community College from 1997 through 2000 and was a member of the chamber choir Musica Viva of Winchester, Virginia from 2001 through 2003.  He is currently Director of music at Market Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, Virginia and also the lead singer in the 50s Jazz Band  “Jump Alley.”  Steve has been sought after as a choral adjudicator, coach, and guest conductor throughout the east cost.  In 2007 the Sherando High School Choral Department under the direction of Dr. Jennings toured Italy singing in Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.  He is also the tennis coach for the men’s team at Sherando High School in Stephens City, Virginia.  Also in 2007 Dr. Jennings was awarded the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award at Yale University.  

Dr. Jennings is a member of the Virginia Music Educators Association and for the last four years has been one of the registrars for the VMEA conference in November.  He is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Jennings is married to his college sweetheart and has two daughters, ages 20 and 10.