For 127 years, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem has been more than a musical ensemble. It is a living tradition – passed from voice to voice – uniting people through the belief that great music belongs to everyone.
Now, guided by our strategic plan and inspired by the voices that shaped our past, we launch Heart of the Bach Choir, a three-year, $2 million initiative to invest in the people and programs that make our mission possible.
This campaign is not about buildings. It is about people: the singers, students, conductors, and creators whose artistry sustains a legacy unlike any other in America.
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
• Expanding Our Reach, the campaign enables the Choir to pursue domestic and international touring opportunities, including a recent invitation to return to Bachfest Leipzig in 2027 – and helps provide a measure of support for our volunteer singers so they can participate regardless of financial means.
• Strengthening Our Future, this campaign supports a reimagined Festival and our professional orchestra and provides funding to allow us to expand the complement of chair positions for musicians and vocalists, as might be appropriate for each concert.
• Investing in the Next Generation, our campaign strengthens our Bach to School, Bel Canto, and Cantare programs – reaching over 5,000 young people annually. For some, it’s their first live classical music experience; for many, it’s when they discover they belong. The campaign also establishes a two-year conducting fellowship under the guidance of our Artistic Director, providing an exceptional leadership opportunity for emerging conductors.
• Preserving Our Legacy A 1947 recording. A program book from 1912. A hand-written note. Our archive tells a uniquely American musical story – one we are committed to preserving, digitizing, and sharing with those who shaped our legacy and the new generation that will carry it forward.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR FUND
Every Monday night, our singers rehearse under the guidance of Christopher Jackson, a conductor whose vision is shaping the next chapter of the Choir’s sound and spirit. This fund creates and endows a year-year Artistic Director Fellowship and supports the next generation of creative leadership.
TOURING FUND
From London to Salzburg, the Bach Choir serves as a cultural ambassador. This fund provides financial support for domestic and international touring, including Bachfest Leipzig 2027, helping our invited volunteer singers to participate, regardless of their means.
CREATIVE AND MEDIA COLLABORATIONS FUND
A livestreamed concert can reach someone homebound, or across the world. This fund supports the Choir’s digital recording infrastructure, including production of livestreamed concerts, new professionally recorded audio and video projects, and extends our reach through broadcasts across the world.
FESTIVAL FUND
In 2025, the Bethlehem Bach Festival entered a new era with an expanded four-day format. This fund supports enhanced programming including the Films from the Archives lecture series, Outside the Bachs, rising artist competitions, and the live broadcast of the Mass in B Minor, drawing new artists and audiences.
UNRESTRICTED OPERATING AND ENDOWMENT SUPPORT
Some of the most important work we do cannot be predicted. This fund gives future leadership the flexibility to meet challenges, seize opportunities, and sustain excellence.
ARCHIVES FUND
A 1947 recording. A program book from 1912. A handwritten note from Dr. Schickele. Our archive tells a uniquely American musical story – one we are committed to preserving and sharing. This fund makes these materials accessible to scholars, students, and the public.
BACH AT NOON FUND
A beloved favorite for both performers and audiences, our Bach at Noon free concerts are a musical gift to our community. This fund provides essential support for the professional orchestra, invited guest soloists, and the expansion of the series throughout the Lehigh Valley. This series is a nurturing ground for emerging artists.
YOUTH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH FUND
Ask any parent whose child sings or plays an instrument, and they will tell you how it builds confidence, discipline, and joy. This fund strengthens our Bach to School, Bel Canto Youth Chorus, Zimmermann’s Coffee House, Choral Scholars, and Cantare programs, which reach over 5,000 students annually. For some, it’s their first encounter with live classical music. For many, it’s the moment they realize they belong in it. This fund ensures that more young singers and students have access to transformational musical experiences – regardless of background or means.
SUPPORT THE HEART OF THE BACH CHOIR
Support the Heart of the Bach Choir campaign and help sustain the music, and the people who make it, for generations to come. Gifts may support operating needs (2025-2028), the endowment, or both. Means of contributing include cash or multi-year pledges, endowment gifts, and planned or legacy gifts. Contributions of $5,000+ qualify donors for the Heritage Society. Give through cash, IRA rollover, stocks, donor advised funds, employer matching, or the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Every gift strengthens the Choir’s future.
Donate to the Heart of the Choir campaign because legacy is not something we inherit – it is something we create together. Visit Bach.org/donate to make a secure online donation, or contact us at 610-866-4382 ext. 113 to donate by phone.
