Jason Strunk

Artistic Director

Praised for his expressive interpretations, imaginative programming, and commitment to storytelling through music, Jason Strunk is a conductor, educator, and artistic leader redefining the role of professional choral music in rural America. A simple belief guides his work: music has the power to help us understand one another more deeply. Through performances that unite exceptional artistry with compelling storytelling, he creates experiences that invite audiences not only to hear beautiful music, but also to engage with the ideas, histories, and people behind it.

Dr. Strunk serves as Director of Choral Activities at Shepherd University, where he leads the university's choral program and teaches conducting, choral pedagogy, and music history. His teaching is grounded in the conviction that technical excellence and artistic curiosity are inseparable, and that the rehearsal room should cultivate not only accomplished performers but thoughtful collaborators.

He is the founding Artistic Director of Renatum, West Virginia's only professional chamber choir. Founded in 2022, Renatum grew from a desire to rebuild human connection through music following the isolation of the pandemic. Under Strunk's leadership, the ensemble has earned recognition for innovative programming that explores shared human experiences. Bringing together professional singers from across the region and the nation, Renatum demonstrates that world-class artistry can flourish in rural America while creating meaningful dialogue through music.

Before devoting his career fully to conducting and higher education, Dr. Strunk enjoyed an active career as a professional singer and performer. He worked with Broadway artists Brad Oscar, Linda Eder, and Liz Callaway, appeared in projects involving filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, and performed with internationally acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli. 

His scholarly interests focus on the emerging art form of choral theater and the role of storytelling in the choral arts. His doctoral research at the University of Miami examined Leonard Bernstein's A White House Cantata, exploring the intersections of music, politics, and historical memory. That scholarship continues to inform his programming, particularly projects that examine overlooked histories, amplify diverse voices, and explore how choral music can contribute to civic dialogue.