MUSIC THAT MATTERS
For more than 125 years, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem has been sustained by something deeper than tradition alone. At the center of every performance, every student reached, and every life changed is a community of people who believe this music matters.
Heart of the Bach Choir is our campaign to invest in the people who bring Bach’s music to life today and carry it forward for generations to come.
Through this campaign, we strengthen the singers, musicians, educators, and leaders who make our work possible, ensuring that Bach’s music continues to inspire, challenge, and connect our community in profound ways.
THE HEART OF THE CAMPAIGN
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is not only defined by its history, but by its living, breathing presence in our region and beyond. Each season, thousands gather for concerts, festivals, and educational programs that place Bach’s music at the heart of community life.
From Bach at Noon and Bach to School to our mainstage concerts and the Bethlehem Bach Festival, our work reaches audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences.
Students encounter Bach for the first time. Longtime listeners return year after year. Families grow traditions around this music.
- Artistic excellence rooted in thoughtful leadership
- Education programs that open doors for young musicians
- Community engagement that brings Bach into everyday life
- Financial stability that allows our mission to thrive
This campaign is about people. The heart behind every rehearsal. The care behind every program. The generosity that allows the music to continue.
MAKING AN IMPACT
Heart of the Bach Choir supports the people and programs at the core of our mission. This campaign seeks to raise $2.0 million over three years, with funds designated both for endowment support—securing the long-term future of our programs—and for general operations to provide immediate support for special projects and initiatives.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR FUND
Under the guidance of Christopher Jackson, this fund establishes a two- to four-year Artistic Director Fellowship that cultivates the next generation of creative leadership through hands-on conducting experience with a dynamic, highly respected choral organization. While receiving exceptional professional training, the Conducting Fellow will strengthen the Choir artistically, increase rehearsal efficiency for major performances, and expand our capacity for small-ensemble concerts in a variety of venues. The Fellowship will also help build relationships with national partners and broaden our artistic reach and influence.
TOURING FUND
There is no experience that accelerates a choir’s artistic growth—or expands engagement with new audiences and opportunities—more powerfully than traveling to perform. Shared travel and music-making deepen a choir’s internal chemistry, while performing in new and noteworthy venues sharpens singers’ skills as they adapt to different acoustics and ensembles—essential, though often unseen, elements of great performance.
This fund will provide financial support for domestic and international touring, including Bachfest Leipzig 2027, and offer assistance to invited volunteer singers for whom travel costs might otherwise be a barrier.
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.
ARCHIVES FUND
A 1947 recording. A 1912 program book. A handwritten note from Dr. Schickele. Our archive tells a uniquely American musical story—one we are committed to preserving and sharing through the most advanced technology. This fund ensures these materials and our legacy are accessible to scholars, students, and the public for generations to come.
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 and future audiences.
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. Whether it’s their first encounter with live classical music, or the moment they realize they enjoy it, this fund ensures that more young singers and students have access to transformational musical experiences.
UNRESTRICTED OPERATING AND ENDOWMENT SUPPORT
Some of the most important work we do cannot be predicted. These funds give future leadership the flexibility to meet challenges, seize opportunities, and sustain excellence.
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.
