bach festival of philadelphia

History of the Festival

Michael Korn
(1976-1988)

Dennis Schmidt
(1993-2000)

Jonathan Sternberg
(2004- )

History

The Bach Festival of Philadelphia is dedicated to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, music of the baroque period or music related to Bach (see Previous Seasons and the Compendium of Works Performed). It was founded as the ‘Basically Bach Festival’ in 1976 by Michael Korn and committed members of the Chestnut Hill community (like Chorus America and the Philadelphia Singers). Until 1988, the Philadelphia Singers and the Concerto Soloists (today Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia) were the Festival’s ensembles in residence.

Over the years many high profile artists from all over the world have enriched the cultural life of the Delaware Valley area through the Bach Festival of Philadelphia, artists such as the St. Thomas Boys Choir, Marie-Claire Alain, Julianne Baird, Paul Galbraith, Marietta Simpson, Anner Bylsma, Gustav Leonhardt, Todd Wilson, Joshua Rifkins, Ralph Kirkpatrick, David Finckel, Gary Kendall, The Swingle Singers, Helmuth Rilling, The Washington Bach Consort, Dresdner Kreuzchor, Richard Alexander, Jon Humphrey, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Ensemble Corund, Florilegium of London, Lionel Rogg, The New York Dance Company, Ullrich Böhme, The New York Chamber Soloists, Aulos Ensemble, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman, The Smithsonian Chamber Players and Chorus, Musica Antiqua Köln, The Modern Jazz Quartet, John Gibbons, Les Arts Florissants, I Solisti Veneti, Alan Harler, Benita Valente, the Tallis Scholars, Jeffrey Brillhart, Michael Marissen, and Christoph Wolff.

For extended information on the Bach Festival’s history, see former President Martin Heckscher’s foreword to “Universal Bach” or click here.

Mission

The Bach Festival’s mission is Quality-Engagement-Opportunities-Relations

We are committed:

  • to organizing outstanding musical events in Philadelphia with internationally-renowned artists and young talents from the area;

  • to engaging the local communities of Philadelphia in music and art related activities;

  • to increasing business opportunities and tourism for the area; and

  • to improving German-American relations by cooperating with the Bach-Fest Leipzig and other German organizations.

Educational Outreach

The Bach Festival vividly engages in education activities. The Bach Festival donates 10% of its tickets for every regular concert to schoolchildren and classes. If you are interested in obtaining these tickets please contact StringsForSchools.org. The annual Mr. Bach’s Birthday Party allows many children and their families to playfully get acquainted with Bach’s music. The “Bach to School” programs we presented have been a great success with the schools involved.

These are Philadelphia High School students rehearsing Bach’s Cantata 34 under the leadership of Greg Funfgeld, artistic director of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem. This program and others like it have been sponsored by The Bach Festival of Philadelphia.

Here the students are giving their performance at the High School of Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia. These programs are vital in introducing Bach to children who might not otherwise have exposure to the great master. Activities such as these are expensive so if you are interested in helping sponsor them, please contact us or make a donation here.

Public Relations

Global Bach Community

The Bach Festival of Philadelphia is also proud to host the Global Bach Community, founded in the year 2000 at the 250th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Global Bach Community is an organization devoted to linking and supporting local Bach organizations worldwide.

Addresses of other Bach Festivals can be found on our Organizations page, and also at Bach-Cantatas.com and the American Bach Society.

If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter with updates on our concerts and recent developments in the Global Bach community, please click here.

© The Bach Festival of Philadelphia, Inc.
8806 Germantown Ave   Philadelphia, PA 19118    phone 215.247.BACH