LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY. SING YOUR HEART OUT.
WELCOME TO THE
KALAMAZOO BACH FESTIVAL
2020-2021 Season No. 74 Singing One Breath and One Concert at a Time
Requiem in D minor, Op. 48, Gabriel Fauré
Kalamazoo Bach Festival Chorus | Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Dr. Chris Ludwa, Music Director of KBF
Jessica Louise Coe, Soprano
Gerald J. Case-Blanchard, Baritone
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.
Light Eternal
A Virtual Concert Premiere
Of Unity and Reflection
Thursday | June 24 | 8 pm
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!
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)
Friends and Family Link $59
(suggested for 5 to 8 viewers)
Summer Gathering Link $99
(suggested for 9 to 12 viewers)
Covid Relief Link $5
(suggested for 1 viewer )
Solitude Link $19
(suggested for 1 viewer)
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.
Congratulations to our 2021 Competition Winners!
Contemporary/Pop
Mia Perrin, Plainwell High School
Classical/Opera
Sophia Propson, Home School in Rochester Hills
Musical Theater/Jazz
Jason Koch, Portage Northern High School
Listen to the full concert of all eleven finalists HERE.
FREE
CONCERT
Of Amazingly Talented
Michigan High School Singers!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
In the spirit of the greatest TV Holiday specials, Kalamazoo
Bach Festival presents an online virtual concert experience
that will have you bursting with joy as you enjoy a cup of
cheer with us! Revel in the holiday splendor of Stetson
Chapel, enjoy visits by carolers in festive costuming at
your virtual doorstep, rejoice in a refreshing new
arrangement of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and the world premiere of a new text setting of J.S. Bach's Cantata Wachet auf that strengthens our Bach Festival message of equity
and social justice. Take a journey through magical
holiday images of Kalamazoo over the years, and
have your heart and your
ears filled with holiday
songs and spirit once again
as we celebrate the season
together.
Holidays with the Kalamazoo Bach Festival!
Virtual Concert
SUN | DEC 6 | 4 pm
through THUR | DEC 31 | 11 pm
Tickets available ALL month long!
Watch Our Holiday Concert Preview!
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.
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!
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
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
LOVE IS (Volume 3)
WED MAR 4, 2020 | 7 pm
First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo
Tickets will be available at the door.
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!
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
Nielsen Symphony No. 3 "Espansiva"
Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region
Brahms Schicksalslied
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.
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
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
In collaboration with Kalamazoo College, voice students perform for and be coached by our visiting guest artist and soloistfor our large choral masterwork.
GUEST ARTISTS
IN CONCERT
Our featured guest soloists for
Carmina Burana share their
beautiful voices featuring opera,
Broadway, and more!
Bach Festival Chorus,
Chris Ludwa, conductor
Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra,
Andrew Koehler, conductor
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
In its 11th year, area church choirs and organists join in honoring the life and legacy of J.S. Bach by presenting a work by Bach and/or his contemporaries during their regular services. Participating churches will be part of a unique city-wide celebration of Bach’s musical legacy.
BACH AND
JAMMIES
In collaboration with the Kalamazoo Public Library, local pianist, Kory Heitzig and Bach Festival chorus members will send you to the moon and back with this lovely all-ages family evening event featuring your favorite bed time stories paired with beautiful music and lullabies. Come in your jammies and snuggle down to an evening of awe and wonder.
Enjoy a lovely mid-morning concert featuring cellist David Peshlakai and his captivatingly beautiful
interpretations of the Bach Cello Suites No. 1 and
No. 3. A refreshing brunch of pastries, fruit, and beverages will be provided.
BREAKING BARRIERS WITH BACH
Fri May 3
7:30 pm at K-College, Dalton Theater
Tickets available online
and at the door
Rhea Olivaccé, soprano, Arturo Ziraldo, viola
Sookkyung Cho, piano, Kyd Kane, spoken word artist
Heartside Harmony Chamber Music Society is breaking barriers. By facilitating discourse regarding the definition of “classical” or “art” music, and the role of people of color in defining the cultural works of past and present, Heartside presents works that explore the human condition and highlight excellence by diverse artists who live and work in West Michigan. This challenging and moving evening will feature Creole Songs by Camille Nickerson, Three Dream Portraits by Margaret Bonds (texts by Langston Hughes) and
original performance poetry by Kyd Kane. The goal of Heartside Harmony CMS is to engage deeply with all people regardless of education, cultural background or ethnic history, and to create value and access to profound musical experiences.
THE CITY
SINGS BACH
Sun April 28
Times and Locations
TBD
Mon/April 29
KPL Oshtemo
Tues/April 30
KPL Central
6:30 pm
BACH'S BRUNCH
CONCERT
Thur May 2
11 am
K-College, Dalton Lobby
VISIONS AND
MIRACLES
Sat May 4
7:30 pm
Stetson Chapel, Kalamazoo College
Tickets available online
and at the door
Arcato Chamber Ensemble,
Andrew Koehler, conductor
Bach Festival Chamber Singers,
Chris Ludwa, conductor
Join the Kalamazoo Bach Festival Chamber Singers and Arcato Chamber Ensemble for an evening of entertainment that explores powerful and inspiring music which informs and guides us in various ways. Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus, Gustav Mahler’s Adagietto from Symphony No. 5, Christopher Theofanidis’s Visions and Miracles, Ola Gjeilo’s Unicornis Captivatur, a setting for a cappella choir that draws on 17th century tunes and tells a fascinating and energizing story about thismythical creature. Vivaldi’s Gloria in D, a work of celebratory music, will close this exciting evening of music.
FESTIVAL
BEER CHOIR
Mon May 6
8 pm
Old Dog Tavern
Carl Witt, piano
Mike Fuerst, bass
Jay Gavan, guitar
Join us outside in the beautiful garden at the Old Dog Tavern and sing your favorite Beatles songs with us. Added bonus – a portion of drink sales for the evening will
be donated to the Bach Festival!
32ND ANNUAL BACH AROUND
THE BLOCK
ORGAN CRAWL
Mon May 6
7 pm
Locations TBA
collaboration with the American Guild of Organists, discover the music of J.S. Bach and the sounds of the many beautiful pipe organs throughout the churches of downtown Kalamazoo.
7 PM
First Congregational Church
7:30 PM
First United Methodist
8 PM
St. Luke’s Episcopal
