Concerts, Covid and Comfort
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Repertoire Show-and-Share + Programming Public Domain How-To
4 PD Hours – $20 Registration
Monday, July 14, 2025 • 10am – 2pm

First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem • 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem with David Macbeth, Director of Music, First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem & Artistic Director, Concord Chamber Singers

Participants will learn about resources and repertoire in the public domain that can be used in concert programming. In addition, participants are encouraged to bring their favorite repertoire for a show-and-share of scores, with participants breaking into grade-level focus groups (Elementary, Middle, and High School). Participants are also welcome to peruse the Bel Canto Youth Chorus choral library as part of the session.

New Teachers Forum
4 PD Hours – $20 Registration
Monday, July 21, 2025
Elementary – 9am – 1pm
Secondary – 12pm – 4pm

Bach Choir Office • 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem, PA 18018

Facilitated by Bel Canto Youth Chorus Conductors

With a focus on teachers in the first 5 years of their career, this group will cover challenges faced by teachers new (and new-ish) to the classroom, including planning and preparation, concert production, fundraising, repertoire selection, assessment, and more. Limited to 10 participants per grade level group.

Tune Up Your Choral Conduction: No-Stress Edition
4 PD Hours – $20 Registration
Wednesday, July 23 2025 • 10am – 2pm

Bach Choir Office • 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem, PA 18018

Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem

This collaborative, hands-on conducting workshop gives participants the opportunity to brush up on conducting essentials, discuss the correlation between conducting and vocal technique, and observe or participate in one-on-one instruction – all in a friendly and no-stress environment. All levels welcome! Limited to 15 participants.

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is a PDE approved Act 48 Independent Provider.

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Bach Chaconne Project

Conceived and directed by Dr. Larry Lipkis, the Bach Chaconne Project debuted at The Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s 2013 Family Concert. The Project was held again in 2015, with its final performance taking place at the 108th Bethlehem Bach Festival. Watch the short film on this page to walk through the process with the ten talented high school participants, including excerpts from their final performance in 2015.

Our 113th Bethlehem Bach Festival will feature a new group of Chaconne Project students,  as they present their compositions at the Ifor Jones Chamber Music Concert on Saturday, May 22, 2021.  Our Festival Artist-in-Residence that weekend, guitarist Eliot Fisk, has joined the project this season and will perform with the students during the concert.

Interested in learning more about the Bach Chaconne Project, or conducting a similar project at your school or organization?

Click the button below to download the Bach Chaconne Starter Kit.

Download the Starter Kit

Bach 101

Enjoy a deeper understanding of the works performed by The Bach Choir of Bethlehem. The Bach Choir is delighted to feature here the work and insights of Carol Traupman-Carr, Ph.D., former Associate Professor of Music and current Associate Provost at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA.

Cantatas

Cantata BWV 1Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Cantata BWV 4Christ lag in Todes Banden
Cantata BWV 9Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
Cantata BWV 11, Ascension Oratorio: Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen
Cantata BWV 21, Ich hatte viel Bekümmerniss
Cantata BWV 29Wir danken dir, Gott
Cantata BWV 31Der Himmel lacht! die Erde jubilieret
Cantata BWV 34O ewiges Feuer
Cantata BWV 40Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes
Cantata BWV 43Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen
Cantata BWV 51Jauchzet Gott
Cantata BWV 56Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen
Cantata BWV 59Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten
Cantata BWV 63Christen ätzet diesen Tag
Cantata BWV 69Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele
Cantata BWV 71Gott ist mein König
Cantata BWV 73Herr wie du willt
Cantata BWV 74Wer mich liebet
Cantata BWV 76Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes
Cantata BWV 80Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
Cantata BWV 82Ich habe genug
Cantata BWV 102Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben!
Cantata BWV 103, Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, aber die Welt wird sich freuen
Cantata BWV 105Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht
Cantata BWV 106Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit
Cantata BWV 110Unser Mund sei voll Lachens
Cantata BWV 130Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir
Cantata BWV 131Aus der Tiefen
Cantata BWV 137Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren
Cantata BWV 140Wachet Auf
Cantata BWV 147Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
Cantata BWV 149Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg
Cantata BWV 151Süsser Trost, mein Jesus kömmt
Cantata BWV 156Ich steh mit einem Fuss im Grabe
Cantata BWV 169Gott soll allein mein Herze haben
Cantata BWV 174Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte?
Cantata BWV 182Himmelskönig, sei willkommen
Cantata BWV 198, Trauer Ode
Cantata BWV 211Coffee Cantata

Masses and Mass Parts

The Mass in B Minor, BWV 232

Mass in G Minor, BWV 235
Mass in G Major, BWV 236 (Missa brevis in G major)

Motets

Motet BWV 159a, Ich lasse dich nicht
Motet BWV 225, Singet dem Herrn
Motet BWV 226, Der Geist hilft
Motet BWV 228, Fürchte dich nicht
Motet BWV 229, Komm, Jesu, komm
Motet BWV 230, Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden

Passions

St. Matthew PassionBWV 244

Other Choral Works

The Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Easter Oratorio (Oster-Oratorium), BWV 249
Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243

Johannes Brahms: Op. 29, No. 2 “Schaffe in mir Gott”
Morten Lauridsen:  Lux Aeterna
Felix Mendelssohn:  Richte mich gott, Op. 78
W.A. Mozart: Mass in C minor, K. 472 (“Grand Mass”)

Past Conductors

J. Fred Wolle

1898-1933

Bruce Carey

1933-1939

Ifor Jones

1939-1969

Alfred Mann

1969-1980

William Reese

1980-1983

Past Presidents

Ralf R. Hillman

1900-1905

Henry S. Drinker

1912-1920

Charles M. Schwab

1921-1926

Ruth M. Linderman

1926-1934

Henry S. Snyder

1934-1943

William L. Estes, Jr.

1943-1961

Elmer L. Mack

1961-1965

Charles H. H. Weikel

1965-1969

The Hon. Carleton T. Woodring

1969-1972

Kenneth L. Houck

1972-1981

Thomas T. Church

1981-1991

Janice S. Bonge

1991-1996

John A. Jordan, Jr.

1996-2004

David G. Beckwith, Ph.D.

2004-2014