From funk to folk

Robert Natt / photo editor

A pair of guitars waits patiently by stools on the dimly lit stage of Court Square Theater. An audience packed with friends and family, some who haven't seen one another in months, greet each other with hugs as anticipation builds for the upcoming event. As 8 p.m. approaches, the crowd members find their seats, and JMU graduate Stephanie Chapman ('00) is introduced with her husband Nathan.

Warm cheers greet the couple. Chapman, with thick light brown hair that rests just below her shoulders, immediately thanks her fans, many of whom have known her since her college days or earlier. The Chapman's first short song set the mood for the evening. The chorus, "Hold me close, my dear," reflects the relationship that Stephanie and Nathan have as they give each other loving glances between verses.

Formerly Stephanie Schlosser, she was born in West Virginia and grew up in Loudon County with her parents Ginny and Ed and three siblings Jason, Jamie and Leslie.

Music has been a part of Chapman's life since childhood. "I've been singing since I was little," she said. "My family was musical in that we all enjoyed music and liked to sing." With a vocally talented mother and a father who played several instruments and adored Bob Dylan, music was destined to be a part of Chapman's life. "I would make little songs on the piano and perform for everyone," she said grinning. "I just loved it."

Chapman's love for music was no secret, especially to her family. "In the afternoon, you'd hear the garage door open, then you'd hear Stephanie's voice," Jamie, Chapman's sister, recalled. "She always loved to sing. She always wanted to do it for a living."

After a busy, involved high school career, Chapman chose to attend JMU. It was the campus tour that clinched Chapman's decision to attend the school. Her busy lifestyle continued at JMU. Chapman was active in Young Life in her sophomore through senior years as a leader at Eastern Mennonite High School. Meriwether Anderson, a member of the Young Life group Chapman helped lead, described Chapman as "vibrant, an amazing listener and tons of fun."

Chapman was also a founding member of the second all-female a cappella group on campus, the BluesTones, created by her friend and roommate Susie Gaskins ('00) in 1999. Chapman performed Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" as her solo song while in the group. Junior Hilary Mann, a member of the BluesTones, was a freshman when Chapman was a senior and described Chapman's singing style as "completely versatile."

Before coming to college, Chapman bought a guitar because it was smaller and more portable than a piano. "I just started learning how to play. A lot of my friends played and wrote. We [played at] coffee shops just for fun with friends," Chapman said.

Robert Natt / photo editor Nathan Chapman performs original folk tunes at Court Square Theater Sunday night. Nathan and his wife, Stephanie ('00), were welcomed back to the 'Burg by friends and family.

Chapman's fond memories of college also include living in "The Funk House" on Mason Street with seven friends during her junior and senior years. The housemates hosted four coffee houses at the Funk House, during which Chapman and her friends could showcase their talents.

Chapman's talents extend beyond music. "She was always an entertainer," Ginny, Chapman's mother, said with pride. Young Chapmans's shows at home were never without laughter, and neither were her shows at the Funk House.

Former roommate Charlotte Schindler ('99) remarked, "She was a born stand-up comic. She would tell jokes with a wooden spoon for a microphone and have us laughing so hard." Chapman's sense of humor brings an extra spark to an already delightful performance. She and her husband play off each other's quick wit between songs.

It seems that by fate, Chapman broke her leg right before she was supposed to travel to France in 1997. She had to postpone her trip until after she graduated in 2000 when she was invited to live with a friend in the small town of Franceville in Normandy.

While working for a company that provides housing for college students visiting France, she met her future husband, Nathan Chapman of Nashville, Tenn. He was visiting France to fulfill a language requirement for school. Chapman recalls the first time she saw her husband. "He had on this T-shirt that said 'Ne Pas' which means 'not' in French," she recalled. "I remember seeing this red-headed American boy with this bright blue T-shirt on. My first thought was, 'Oh, we have a lot of work to do,' but then when he shook my hand, I was struck," she reminisced.

Their first date was somewhat of an accident. "A bunch of us were planning to go visit a small town, just for fun, but Nathan and I were the only ones that ended up going. Whether or not that was a design by our friends, we'll never know," she said smiling at her husband.

The couple connected musically when her husband discovered that Chapman had a guitar and asked her to borrow it. Chapman assumed he was an amateur. However, as he started playing, she realized how wrong she was. "He was such a great musician. I was so embarrassed," she exclaimed.

Soon after surprising Chapman by proposing just after his sister's wedding, they wed and now reside in Nashville, where they write and perform modern folk music together. Although they are greatly influenced by Dylan and Iris Dement, the music they create is unique. They mix rock, country and bluegrass for each show. "We like to take people on a journey, and we consider both the story and musical aspect of each song," said Chapman's husband, whose favorite song to perform is "Heart of Gold," which Chapman wrote. "It's a story about gold melting and changing and being made into something new each time," Chapman said.

Although she is close with her family and misses them, she loves living in Nashville. "It's a great place to see and do any kind of show, any time you want. It's a real adventure," she explained. They've been married three months and were excited to be welcomed back to Harrisonburg, especially at the Court Square Theater, their biggest venue yet.

"I love Court Square," she said. "I came to a lot of shows here when I was in school. When I found out we could play here, I was just so happy."

Her husband described Chapman in a single word: "stunning." He admited that she is his favorite thing about singing. "I love performing with Stephanie. I found a joy in music I'd lost before I met her.

"There are people here that have been married 20, 30, 40, 50 years, and that's where we're headed and we're excited," her husband said.

Now, at 23, Chapman is enjoying her life with her husband and the path they have chosen. "It's kind of a whirlwind," she said. "It's fun to know what I'm doing and be on the adventure of life."