Season Passes Available for Live and Virtual Concerts!

Learn about our returning safely to

in-person concert's policies HERE.

Download the free 

bindle app here

Entry Deadline NOV 1, 2021

2022 Young Vocalists VIRTUAL Competition

for Michigan ALL High School Students

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3 Different Competition Categories!

3 AWESOME $500 Cash Awards!

For more information and guidelines go HERE

Holidays with the Kalamazoo Bach Festival - 2 performances

2021-2022 VIRTUAL 

HIGH SCHOOL 

VOCAL

COMPETITION

Sunday, December 5, 2021 | 2 pm and 4 pm | Kalamazoo College, Stetson Chapel

The ultimate seasonal celebration of your favorite holiday music, pieces from around the world, and two world premieres, all in beautiful Stetson Chapel and live-streamed on our YouTube Channel. Local favorites, special community guest artists will join us in celebrating this now over 50-year holiday tradition that will be sure to bring light to the beginning of your holiday season. This concert will run 70 minutes in length without intermission, at 75% capacity, and be performed twice to create a covid-safe concert experience indoors. Our 4 pm concert will be live-streamed.

Love Is (Volume 5)

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 | 7:30 pm | Kalamazoo College, Dalton Theater

We are delighted to be joined by special guests Apollo 5, the international award-winning British vocal ensemble, along with the Bach Festival Chorus, Kalamazoo Male Chorus, and Kalamazoo College Singers for the most eclectic tribute to love you’re bound to experience anywhere. This concert will be in-person and live-streamed on our YouTube Channel. 

Daphnis et Chloé with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

Friday, April 1, 2022 | 8 pm | Miller Auditorium

Mozart’s ballet music from his opera Idomeneo opens the door to this program featuring one of the largest and most-loved ballet scores ever written, Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé. The Kalamazoo Bach Festival Chorus joins the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra in an unforgettable presentation of the complete ballet, with supertitles. The program also includes Richard Strauss’ comical tone poem Till Eulenspiegel, about the life (and death) of the trickster of the same name as recorded in German folklore of the Middle Ages.

Chanticleer

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 | 7:30 pm | First Presbyterian Church, downtown Kalamazoo

We could not be more excited to have the opportunity to bring Chanticleer to Kalamazoo for our 75th anniversary! Founded in San Francisco in 1978, Chanticleer is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for the seamless blend of its twelve male voices ranging from countertenor to bass and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to venturesome new music.  

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Haydn La Creación (The Creation) - 2 performances

Thursday, June 9 & Friday, June 10, 2022 | 7:30 pm | Kalamazoo College, Dalton Theater

We finish our anniversary season and celebrate with Haydn's classical masterpiece for soloists, chorus, and orchestra that depicts the scenic narrative of the biblical story of Creation. We present this grand work in Spanish, featuring Latinx guest soloists, and adding visual effects in the theater for a fresh new interpretation and creative take on this exceptional musical depiction of the beauty of the earth. We will present this performance two times, both in-person and on June 9, live-streamed. 

Together We are Stronger

Change Gonna Come, the Music of Sam Cooke 

Discover Open Doors, Community Fundraiser

Sunday | August 29 | 4 pm

Bronson Park | FREE Concert in the Park

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Thank you to our concert partners!

Arts Fund of Kalamazoo County, 

a program of the Arts Council of 

Greater Kalamazoo

Bill and Jeannette Maxey

Jerome Collins, visiting artist

The Kalamazoo Bach Festival and Open Doors of Kalamazoo have teamed up to present you with a powerful experience of artistic expression and an opportunity to support and better understand our local housing crisis. For over 50 years, Open Doors has been effectively and efficiently providing affordable homes and  personal support to create long-term solutions for people in our community who need a safe place to call “home.” 
 

Change Gonna Come is a biographical musical theatre production portraying the life and songs of soul singer Sam Cooke whose influential career was tragically shortened when he was shot at just 33 years of age. Baritone Jerome Collins, the founding member of the a capella ensemble Straight No Chaser, portraying the life and songs of Sam Cooke paired with Kalamazoo’s favorite jazz instrumentalists and backup singers led by Bach Festival’s Music Director Chris Ludwa, are sure to deliver a profound and beautiful work, Change Gonna Come, written in partnership by Chris Ludwa, and  Jerome Collins.

A Look Back at 2020-2021, Season no. 74

Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, Gabriel Fauré ​

Kalamazoo Bach Festival Chorus | Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

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Conducted by Dr. Chris Ludwa, Music Director of KBF

Jessica Louise Coe, Soprano

Gerald J. Case-Blanchard, Baritone

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The Kalamazoo Bach Festival in partnership with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents a live-stream concert of Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, a musical metaphor for the dark and light moments of grief. Interspersed with spoken word artists expressing a range of emotions that we feel in the face of loss to create space for peace, reflection, and contemplation. Our concert is offered in solidarity with the losses of 2020, from the devastation of the pandemic to the violence and destructive nature of racism.

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Light Eternal

A Virtual Concert Premiere 

Of Unity and Reflection

Thursday | June 24 | 8 pm

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How does my virtual ticket link purchase work?

The concert will premiere on Thursday, June 24 at 8 pm in live Eastern time. Ticket links and access to the concert after the premiere are available until July 23, 2021. You may view the concert as many times as you would like!

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Why are there different ticket options?

We want everyone to have the choice of paying what they can to see this concert and we understand every viewer has a different budget. Please purchase the link that is right for you. We appreciate your support and are grateful for this opportunity to be able to share the joy of music with you and your loved ones.

Thank You to our concert sponsor Deborah D. Russell

Peaceful Picnic Link $39

(suggested for 4 viewers)

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Friends and Family Link $59

(suggested for 5 to 8 viewers)

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Summer Gathering Link $99

(suggested for 9 to 12 viewers)

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Covid Relief Link $5

(suggested for 1 viewer )

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Solitude Link $19

(suggested for 1 viewer)

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Home Together Link $29

(suggested for 2 viewers)

Jessica Louise Coe

Soprano

Gerald J. Case-Blanchard

Baritone

Kalamazoo Bach Festival Chorus

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra​

Choose the Right Ticket Price for You.

                    Be a Part of the New BOGO!

                          Buy One GIVE One!

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You have the opportunity to provide a concert experience that has the potential to change someone's life forever.

We are focused on building partnerships with organizations in Kalamazoo that support the needs of our community's families. We believe that providing intentional access to high-quality fine arts experiences can help families feel welcome, feel respected, and feel loved. Help us build a stronger and more equitable community by helping us provide a concert experience to everyone. 

Upon check out on any online or phone ticket purchase, you will have the opportunity to support our new ticket initiative and to donate to our Annual Fund Campaign. Thank you for trusting us to make Kalamazoo an accessible place for the arts for everyone. 

CHRIS LUDWA

MUSIC DIRECTOR

The mission of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival is to bring excellent vocal, choral and instrumental music to the widest possible audience in southwest Michigan through performances of major works by the Bach Festival Chorus and orchestra, the sponsorship of renowned vocal artists and choral groups and educational outreach activities. The Bach Society focuses on the music of J. S. Bach and composers from the Renaissance to the contemporary era.

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We are committed to sustainable and relevant programming, becoming actively involved in the community with social justice initiatives, increasing diversity with the staff, board, and chorus, creating an equitable organization, and creating a concert experience accessible to the entire community. The Kalamazoo Bach Festival sees profound relevance in civic engagement, connecting music and the arts with community efforts to demonstrate love and commitment to our community.

CORI SOMERS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

We are Almost There!
We miss you  and can't wait
to be in the concert hall again! 

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 our office is open to the public by appointment only. Please call ahead if you would like to visit us. Masks are required.

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You can reach us through email at Bach@kzoo.edu, or leave a message by phone at 269-337-7407. We will be sure to respond as quickly as possible.

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We have been dedicated to keeping our musicians and staff employed and are extremely grateful for all of your support this season! We understand there are many organizations in need of support during this time. To help sustain our efforts please consider making a contribution to the Kalamazoo Bach Festival.

Looking Back at our Seasons

Be sure to check out our virtual recital from April 2020, Safe at Harbor, songs of peace, joy, comfort, and laughter during these challenging times.

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Watch now HERE

BACHTOBERFEST

with THE SUSIE PARR TRIO and DBP3

THUR OCT 24, 2019 | 7 pm

Hornet Suite, Kalamazoo College​

In collaboration with the Grand Traverse

Distillery and many local favorites, we bring

you our fourth annual BACHTOBERFEST!

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Celebrate the Kalamazoo Bach Festival’s community with a very festive spirit.  An opportunity to celebrate our chorus members, raise community awareness of our events and outreach, sing together, feature the Bach Festival Chamber Singers in concert, live music performed by The Dacia Bridges Project and Susie Parr Trio, a silent auction, food, and drink.

NOBUNTU

SUN NOV 3, 2019 | 4 pm

Chenery Auditorium

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Nobuntu is a “Five Part” A’cappella Vocal

ensemble made up of young women from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The name Nobuntu is an African concept that values humbleness, love, purpose, unity and family from a woman’s perspective. Their repertoire is a fusion of traditional Zimbabwean rooted music, Afro Jazz, Gospel and Crossover in pure voices with minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments such as Mbira and some dance movements.

50th ANNUAL HOLIDAYS with the KALAMAZOO BACH FESTIVAL CHORUS

SUN DEC 8, 2019 | 4 pm

Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College​

It's time to celebrate 50 years of beautiful music making in Stetson Chapel!

The Bach Festival Chorus, directed by Dr. Chris Ludwa, and our favorite  guest artists, the Western Brass Quintet, will set the mood for one of Kalamazoo's favorite holiday traditions. This concert frequently sells out so we recommend you purchase your tickets early!

HOLIDAY BEER CHOIR!

THUR DEC 19, 2019 | 7:30 pm

Old Dog Tavern, Kalamazoo

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LOVE IS (Volume 3)

WED MAR 4, 2020 | 7 pm

First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo

Tickets will be available at the door.

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Do you like to sing in the shower? Are you the loudest one belting out "Happy Birthday" at your niece's party?  Well come on out to our Beer Choir and have some holiday cheer with us!

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FREE. FUN. CASUAL.

Winners of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival's Young Vocalists Competition join the BachFest Chorus, First Congregational Church Chancel Choir, and Kalamazoo College Singers for the most eclectic tribute to love you’re bound to experience anywhere.

TRANSCENDENCE | SPRING CHORUS CONCERT

Bach Festival Chorus, Chris Ludwa, conductor

Kalamazoo Philharmonia, Andrew Koehler, conductor

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Nielsen Symphony No. 3 "Espansiva"

Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region

Brahms Schicksalslied

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Explore the profound questions of what lies beyond our physical experience on earth.  The Nielsen contrasts movements that capture the gust of energy and life-affirmation we send out into the world, as the composer himself put it, with a pure vision of Paradise.  A concert that puts aside our ideological debates and finds common ground in what it means to be human.

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Join us for a  pre-concert talk at 6:30 pm in the corner reception room.

SAT MAY 30, 2020 | 7:30 pm

Chenery Auditorium

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Be a Part of  the New BOGO: Buy One GIVE One

You have the opportunity to provide a concert experience that has the potential to change someone's life forever.

We are focused on building partnerships with organizations in Kalamazoo that support the needs of our community's families. We believe that providing intentional access to high quality fine arts experiences can help families feel welcome, feel respected, and feel loved. Help us build a stronger and more equitable community by helping us provide a concert experience to everyone. 

Upon check out on any online or phone ticket purchase, you will have the opportunity to support our new ticket initiative and to donate to our Annual Fund Campaign. Thank you for trusting us to make Kalamazoo an accessible place for the arts for everyone. 

Looking Back at our 2018-2019 Festival Week

Elliot Madore, baritone

VOCAL MASTER CLASS

with Elliot Madore

Fri April 26

10:30 am

K-College, Light Fine Arts

Sun April 28

4 pm

Chenery Auditorium

CARMINA BURANA

THE CITY

SINGS BACH

Sun April 28

Times and Locations

TBD

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Mon/April 29

KPL Oshtemo

Tues/April 30

KPL Central

6:30 pm

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BACH'S BRUNCH

CONCERT

Thur May 2

11 am

 K-College, Dalton Lobby

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