Greg Funfgeld captivates students with the life of J.S. Bach

“Mr. Funfgeld is a great conductor, but I think he secretly would like to be a teacher. He explains a lot.”  ~ Grade 7 Student at Strayer Middle School, following a ‘Bach to School’ assembly

Bach to School is an innovative and imaginative educational outreach program that was launched in 1993 and has now been presented for more than 120,000 children.

2021 UPDATE:

Nobuo Kitagawa with students | Bach to School

Because of the in-person attendance restrictions many school districts are following, we are unable to present our award-winning “Bach to School” program to students in our area this season. This program is presented to every third and fifth grade student in the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton School Districts annually, with additional grades and schools added to the schedule each season.

However, we are addressing the school visitation restrictions and the needs of parents and children at home during the pandemic, in the most innovative way possible: by creating a video presentation that teachers, parents, and students can access online and share virtually, along with activities that students can participate in relating to the video. All students who attend the program receive vouchers for two tickets to a Bach Choir concert, which will also be included in this year’s video program.

We will continue to offer an introduction to the life of J.S. Bach, particularly focusing on his boyhood and initial musical education, and share examples of the influence he has on composers, musicians, and dancers even to this day, including precious archival footage from previous Family Concerts. The video will be narrated by Greg Funfgeld, augmented with messages from soloists and instrumentalists, and interaction with students, all sharing their own insights about the genius of Bach’s music.

While we will miss the opportunity to interact with students in their schools, recording in the sanctuary of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Allentown to present this online program offers several other kinds of benefits, according to Conductor Funfgeld. “Since in-person concerts are not possible, we will create a film that will be offered to all of the schools in The Lehigh Valley to serve as an introduction to Bach, his life, and amazing music – featuring members of The Bach Festival Orchestra, archival recordings from earlier Bach to School and Family Concerts, and some new and innovative offerings that we hope will engage the minds of these precious children.”

The core of our annual program:
Each year Bach to School presents eight assembly programs (each lasting approximately one hour) in school districts throughout the Lehigh Valley and in the surrounding region, reaching a total number of more than 5,000 students annually. The programs are presented by an ensemble of approximately 30 singers and 15 instrumentalists, conducted by Greg Funfgeld. Different versions of the program are targeted for elementary, middle, and high schools. All Lehigh Valley school districts are invited to apply for participation in the program on an rotating basis, with the Bethlehem and Allentown Area School Districts having an ongoing commitment to participate every year.

The students are prepared for Bach to School through classroom instruction with lesson plans provided by The Choir. The program includes a repertoire of seven pieces by Bach, including orchestral and choral works. The heart of the program involves the “Gloria” from the Mass in B Minor taken apart voice by voice and instrument by instrument, then put back together again to demonstrate the genius of Bach’s fugal writing and orchestration. Mr. Funfgeld helps children to see the parallels between music, academics, sports, and their own personal lives by talking about the emotions and creativity of the music, the fruits of practice, and the joy of working together on something you love.

Why Bach to School?

• To bring the joy of Bach’s music to a diverse student population, including many students who have never been to a classical music concert before.
• To use the spark of a live encounter with professional and dedicated volunteer musicians to inspire children with the love of learning and the arts in general.
• To create an interest in Bach as a genius through an imaginative exploration of his life, times, personality, and influence in musical history.
• To create awareness of the importance of classical music, especially Bach, in the heritage of Bethlehem.
• To foster an understanding of The Bach Choir’s existence and function, and an appreciation for the concept of community service or involvement as exemplified by members of The Choir.
• To cultivate a new generation of classical music audiences and artists

Lesson Plans:

• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

JS Bach TIMELINE

TEACHERS: Click the  JS Bach TIMELINE link to access a timeline of Bach’s life.  (Dates and events are listed in the Elementary School Lesson Plan.) Complete it with your class online!