The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest Bach Choir in the United States and gave the first American performances of Bach’s Mass in B Minor and the Christmas Oratorio. Since its founding in 1898, The Choir has been attracting thousands of national and international visitors every May to its annual Bethlehem Bach Festival.
Bach Choir Auditions
We are hearing auditions for all voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) but would like to particularly encourage altos, tenors, and basses to apply.
The audition consists of the following:
- Solo Singing – Each singer will perform one or two songs or arias of contrasting nature (your choice). These can be prepared solos or a prepared section of choral repertoire.
• It is not required to prepare repertoire in German or repertoire from the Baroque era. Hearing you perform German and/or Baroque repertoire is somewhat useful, but not mandatory
• An accompanist will be provided. If you would prefer to utilize a pre-recorded accompaniment track, you may do so.
- Vocalization – We may check range or vocal agility/sustained singing through warm-up exercises.
- Sight-reading – You will be asked to sight-read as a part of the audition.
• With the amount of music that we learn in a year, Bach Choir members must be able to learn (and retain) music at a high level. There are, however, many ways to accomplish this beyond being a perfect sight-reader. Many Bach Choir members who feel less confident about their sight-reading utilize learning tracks and other learning resources on their own time to ensure they can keep up with the demands of the year.
If you have any questions about the audition process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We highly encourage you to sign up or ask questions if you are unsure!
A quick word of encouragement from the Conductor:
“Having been an educator for well over 15 years as well as having gone through many auditions myself, you should know that I attempt to make the process as encouraging, kind, and informative as possible. I respect anyone who cares about music enough to audition for additional opportunities to make it.”
Major Repertoire for the 2025-2026 season: (incomplete list)
- Bach Saint John Passion
- Bach Mass in B Minor
- Mozart Great Mass in C Minor
- Randall Thompson – Testament to Freedom
- Bach Cantatas 62, 110, and 147
Weekly rehearsals are on Monday nights from 7:30 – 9:00 pm (occasionally we will start or end 30 minutes earlier/later) at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. The first rehearsal of the 2025-2026 season is Monday, Sept. 8.
High School and Collegiate Choral Scholarship Program
High School and Collegiate choral musicians who are pursuing advanced musical opportunities will benefit greatly from singing with the Bach Choir as a choral scholar. Some of the benefits include:
- Rehearsing and preparing music on a professional schedule with professional expectations
- Forming connections with local and experienced musicians
- Hearing world-class vocal and instrumental soloists
- Participating in community service/volunteer hours with the Bach Choir
- Letters of recommendation for collegiate/job applications
The Choral Scholars program is for young musicians who are looking to deepen their musical studies and experiences to prepare them for the future.
A word from the Conductor about balancing school, work, and being a Choral Scholar:
“While there is an expectation that Choral Scholars will attend rehearsals and performances like every other member of the Bach Choir, school will always be the top priority. I work closely with students and (if needed) their parents to ensure that we are making decisions about calendar conflicts that prioritize the student’s education and well-being.”
Schedule Your Audition
We do hold auditions year-round – but to start the season with us and participate in all concerts, new auditionees (both adult and high school/collegiate scholar) should audition on the following upcoming dates:
Fri. Aug. 22 – 4:00 – 6:30
Saturday. Aug. 23 – 2:30 – 5:00 pm
Fri. Sept. 5 – 4:00 – 6:30
Saturday, Sept. 6. – 2:30 – 5:00 pm
*if none of these times are possible, please contact us to attempt to reschedule
Please email Lindsay Liiro at lliiro@bach.org or call 610.866.4382 x110 to schedule your 15-minute audition appointment.
Where:
Auditions are held at the Bach Choir offices at 440 Heckewelder Place in historic downtown Bethlehem. There is plenty of street parking nearby, but please do give yourself an extra 10-15 minutes before your scheduled audition time to park and find the office.
Who is the Bach Choir of Bethlehem?
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is an auditioned choir whose members come from a wide variety of professions, backgrounds, lifestyles, and unique histories with vocal music. What unites us is our dedication to making music at the highest level, our love of continuous intellectual growth and engagement, and our devotion to creating and maintaining a community that enhances the lives of all members of the Bach Choir organization and our surrounding communities.
We have had members from the ages of 18-80; some hold a bachelors or masters degrees in music, while others have been church musicians or music teachers; other members are searching to find that special relationship with a choral ensemble they had years ago; some had their musical ambitious derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic and are jumping back in for the first time or preparing for further degrees in music; some are fresh retirees or recent empty nesters who finally have the time to commit to their own personal projects; some are recent college graduates or transplants to the Lehigh Valley who need to keep music in their lives. No matter who you are, there is someone like you in the Bach Choir.
Why Join?
We are one of the most prominent auditioned community choirs on the east coast of the United States. We have recorded more than 15 albums on major record labels, including our most recent Saint Matthew Passion recording (2024). We regularly perform in prominent national and international venues, collaborate with other prominent musical organizations, and attract some of the finest instrumental and vocal soloists in the United States.
We also take care of our choir. There are no membership dues. We subsidize the cost of music for our choir members. The choir is the pride and joy of the organization and is the fundamental reason the organization exists.
Finally, and most simply put, this is an incredible community. We believe in the role that music plays in setting the foundation for an active and supportive community that makes the lives of its members and those we serve uniquely and irreplaceably better.
