For information on booking The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and Bach Festival Orchestra contact Leela Breithaupt, Executive Director at 610.866.4382 ext. 111 or lbreithaupt@bach.org.
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For high resolution files of the following images, please contact Ebony Stevens, Marketing Manager, at 610.866.4382 ext. 115, or by email at estevens@bach.org
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem Profile
The oldest American Bach Choir, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem gave the first complete American performances of Bach’s Mass in B Minor in 1900 and Christmas Oratorio in 1901. Founded in 1898, the now-famous Choir has been attracting thousands of visitors from across the United States and beyond to the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival in Pennsylvania. The 80+ dedicated volunteer singers of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, performing with the Bach Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists, have received international acclaim. Venues have included the Herkulessaal at Munich’s Royal Residence and the Thomaskirche, Bach’s church in Leipzig, as part of the 1995 Germany tour; The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall as part of The Choir’s Centennial Celebration in 1998-2000; the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of an eight-concert tour of the United Kingdom in 2003; and Severance Hall, Cleveland for the 75th anniversary of the Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival in 2007. In September 2011, The Bach Choir represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a 10th anniversary musical observance of 9/11 in New York City, giving concerts in Saint Paul’s Chapel and Trinity Church, Wall Street.
The Choir has released eight recordings on the Dorian and Analekta labels including most recently Songs of Hope (2011) and Saint John Passion (2012). National and international broadcasts have included National Public Radio’s Performance Today and Prairie Home Companion, Deutsche Radio, the BBC World Service, CBS Sunday Morning, and the Emmy award-winning PBS documentary on The Choir, Make a Joyful Noise.
The Choir has been recognized for its outstanding educational outreach programs (Bach at Noon, Bach to School, and interdisciplinary Family Concerts) by Chorus America (2010 finalist) and the National Endowment for the Arts (2011. 2012, and 2013 grant awards), and most recently by the J.S. Bach Foundation in Switzerland, which named The Bach Choir of Bethlehem as the first American recipient of its annual award to a single Bach organization, recognizing The Bach Choir’s outstanding work in Bach performance and education for young people (2012). Mr. Bach Comes to Call, a film based on the acclaimed Classical Kids CD, was co-produced by The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and is distributed internationally by The Children’s Group.
As Seen In
- October, 2022 (Rider University): Dr. Christopher Jackson ’11 now leads America’s oldest Bach choir
- June, 2022 (The Morning Call): Bach at Noon kicks off summer series
- June, 2022 (Niagara Frontier Publications): Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center expands Juneteenth celebrations with special events
- May, 2022 (Bucks County Herald): Bach Choir Festival Director Greg Funfgeld to take final bow
- February. 2022 (Bethlehem Press): Greg Funfgeld Family Concert Set for Feb. 27
- January, 2022 (Chorus America): Feeling Safer in the Concert Hall
- January, 2022 (Early Music America): Venerable and Vibrant
- September, 2021 (WFMZ): Things to Do
- September, 2021 (WFMZ): Bach Choir of Bethlehem Holding Auditions (video)
- July, 2021 (Lehigh Valley Live): Bethlehem Bach Choir to welcome back Yo-Yo Ma for Gala concert in Spring
- July, 2021 (The Morning Call): Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott to perform as part of Bach Choir of Bethlehem spring event
- June, 2021 (The Morning Call): ‘Singing the Underground Railroad’: Bach Choir’s youth chorus teaches kids to use voices to ‘stand up for what’s right’
- May, 2021 (TimesNews Online): Review: 113th Bach Festival a triumph by any measure
- May, 2021 (WFMZ.com): Things to Do: Bach Choir to hold Virtual Bach Festival
- May, 2021 (TimesNews Online): Funfgeld delighted with 113th Bach Fest virtual format
- May, 2021 (TimesNews Online): A dance to Bach: Paul Taylor Company in 113th Bach Festival
- May, 2021 (The Morning Call): Bethlehem Bach Festival preview: After a year away, a virtual broadcast returns live from Germany, Bethlehem, and Allentown
- May, 2021 (The Peabody Post): Leela Breithaupt Appointed Executive Director of Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- May, 2021(Lehigh Valley Business): Renowned arts administrator next Bach executive director
- April, 2021: The Bach Choir of Bethlehem announces new Executive Director Leela Breithaupt
- April, 2021 (WVIA): ArtScene with Erika Funke – Dr. Joy Hirokawa
- April, 2021 (The Press): Bicycling to Bach: Bethlehem Bach Choir pivots for ‘Bach, Bikes & Basketball’
- March, 2021 (The Morning Call): Bach Choir of Bethlehem plans modified 2021 festival; Artistic director and conductor Greg Funfgeld will complete 39th season
- March, 2021 (WFMZ): Things to do: Irish music at Bethlehem’s First Friday | Bach Choir to present virtual Bach at Noon
- January, 2021 (The Morning Call): Bach Choir of Bethlehem announces cancelation of concerts; adds video production for schools
- December, 2020 (Lehigh Valley Press): Concert Review: Bach Choir Christmas Concert Virtually-wonderful
- December, 2020 (WFMZ-TV): Things to Do: Bach Choir Presents Virtual Christmas
- December, 2020 (Times News): Bach Choir of Bethlehem Announces Virtual Concert
- October, 2020 (The Morning Call): Bach Choir of Bethlehem Announces 2020 Virtual Christmas Concert Program
- October, 2020 (WFMZ-TV): Bach Choir of Bethlehem starts practice
- September, 2020 (WFMZ-TV): Bach Choir changes date of virtual Bach at Noon
- September, 2020 (PBS39 WLVT-TV): Bach Choir Starts 123rd Season Virtually
- August, 2020 (The Morning Call): Bach Choir of Bethlehem Announces 2020-21 Season of Grace
- June, 2020 (Lehigh Valley Press FOCUS): Summer Bach at Noon 2020
- June, 2020 (Lehigh Valley Press FOCUS): Gigless in the Valley – Robin Kani
- May, 2020 (The Morning Call): Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s Bach at Noon Concerts to return from sanctuary at St. John’s Lutheran Church
- April, 2020 (The Morning Call): Classical: Performers, others try to accentuate the positive amid pandemic
- April, 2020 (Lehigh Valley Live/Express Times): Bethlehem Bach Festival canceled due to coronavirus pandemic, 1st time without a festival in 113 years
- April, 2020 (The Press): Coronavirus impact: 113th Bach Festival canceled in Bethlehem
- April, 2020 (The Morning Call): Bach Choir of Bethlehem cancels annual Bach Festival due to coronavirus pandemic
- March, 2020 (The Morning Call): Review: Bach Choir Family Concert reaches high-water mark with ‘Noah’s Flood’
- February, 2020 (The Morning Call): Classical: Creatures (and performers) great and small to present Britten’s ‘Noah’s Flood’
- February, 2020 (The Bethlehem Press): Bach Choir of Bethlehem brings community on board for ‘Noah’s Flood’
- February, 2020 (The Morning Call): Cellist Yo-Yo Ma to present special program as part of Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s celebration
- January, 2020 (The Morning Call): Call Board: Bach Choir to hold auditions for Zimmermann’s Coffee House and The Chaconne Project
- January, 2020 (The Morning Call): Bethlehem Bach Festival’s 113th year to feature two outlets for young musicians in May; auditions scheduled
- January, 2020 (The Morning Call): Classical Preview: Bach Choir Bach at Noon
- December, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Review: Bach Choir Handel ‘Messiah’ and Bach ‘Magnificat’ were compelling, engaging
- December, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Classical Music: Bach Choir to present Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (Part 1) for first time in its history
- October, 2019 (The Bethlehem Press) – Command performance: Theatre of Early Music ‘Coronation’ fit for a king at Bach Choir annual gala
- October, 2019 (The Morning Call) – The Royal Treatment: Bach Choir Presents Coronation of King George II in Allentown
- October, 2019 (Bucks County Herald) – Bach Choir hosts Coronation of King George II
- October, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Allentown to get its own taste of ‘The Crown’ at Bach Choir Gala
- September, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Bach at Noon brings back Joyful Noise soloists
- September, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Bach Choir Makes ‘A Joyful Noise’ with Touchstone Theatre
- September, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Festival UnBound: Bringing Bethlehem together through the arts
- August, 2019 (PBS 39) – The Music Man of Bethlehem
- August, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Allentown Bach at Noon to feature pianist Kristina Moditch
- June, 2019 (New York Arts) – Longtime Artistic and Executive Directors of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem announce their retirement, following the 112th Bach Festival
- June, 2019 (The Whole Note) – Bach and Handel CDs Review
- May, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Bach Choir of Bethlehem announces retirements of conductor and executive director
- May, 2019 (WFMZ) – Greg Funfgeld, Bridget George to retire from The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- May, 2019 (Musical America Worldwide) – Bach Choir Artistic and Executive Leaders to Retire
- May, 2019 (The Press) – On the road to Bethlehem for the Bach Festival in May
- May, 2019 (The Press) – Concert Review: 112th Bach Festival of Bethlehem has many memorable moments
- May, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Reviews: Bethlehem Bach Festival concerts: A masterly musical offering
- May, 2019 (WFMZ) – Out and About: 112th Bach Festival opens this weekend
- May, 2019 (The Press) – More than Bach and Beer in Bethlehem
- April, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Bethlehem Bach Festival has lots to offer for 112th year
- April, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Review: Bach Choir of Bethlehem Spring Concert an emotional tour de force
- April, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Mostly Mozart: Bach Choir and Lehigh University Philharmonic to perform Mozart’s most solemn work
- March, 2019 (The Press) – Temple U. prof to lead Bel Canto choral music teachers workshop
- March, 2019 (The Press) – Concert Review: Bach ‘Youth Choirs Festival’ glorious at Zoellner
- March, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Review: “Birthday show” for 100th Bach at Noon Concert is spirited and colorful reunion
- February, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Bach Choir of Bethlehem to host Family Concert: Youth Choirs Festival
- January, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Bach at Noon features cello suite
- January, 2019 (The Morning Call) – Bach Choir New CD released
- December, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Preview: Bach Choir presents cantatas by Bach and a work by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi for its Christmas concerts
- November, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Review: Pianist Peter Serkin raises Bach’s Goldberg Variations to a higher, reverent place.
- October, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Peter Serkin: Always a rebel, the pianist visits the classics at Bach Choir Gala
- Fall, 2018 (Fig, The Arts and Culture Issue) – Authentic: Greg Funfgeld
- Fall, 2018 (Fig, The Arts and Culture Issue) – Joy Hirokawa: The Bel Canto Youth Chorus
- September, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission Announces 2018 Tribute to the Arts honorees
- July, 2018 (Finger Lakes Times) – Wiemer Hosts Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- May, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Review: Harpsichordist Charlotte Mattax-Moersch gives extraordinary performance of the Goldberg Variations at Bethlehem Bach Festival
- May, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Review: Splendid musicianship, rousing choruses and sublime soloists at ‘Bach at 8’ concert at Bethlehem Bach Festival
- May, 2018 (Bethlehem Press) – Concert Review: Stunning debut, milestones, and good vibrations at Bach Fest 2018
- May, 2018 (Arts Around Town) – Arts Around Town: Bethlehem Bach Festival features indoor, outdoor concerts
- May, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Review: Bach Festival artist-in-resident She-e Wu astounds with musicianship and dexterity on marimba
- May, 2018 (The Morning Call) – Banner year for Bach: Annual festival celebrates choir’s 120th year
- May, 2018 (The Morning Call) – The well-tempered marimba: Bach and the percussion instrument are perfect together in the hands of She-e Wu
- May, 2018 (Bethlehem Press) – Thinking outside the Bach: there’s a ‘new guise’ in town for Bach Choir 111th Festival
- April, 2018 (Arts Around Town) – A man for all seasons for Bach Choir’s Greg Funfgeld
- March, 2018 (The Gay Journal) – The Bach Choir Celebrates 120 Years
- March, 2018 (Fig) – The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- March, 2018 (New York Arts) — The 2017 Bethlehem Bach Festival in Retrospect, with a Look Forward to 2018, Marking the 120th Anniversary of the Bethlehem Bach Choir
- March, 2018 (The Morning Call) — Review: Bach Choir truly regal and joyous at first performance at State Theatre
- March, 2018 (Pocono Record) — Bach Choir to ring in Spring at the State Theatre
- March, 2018 (The Morning Call) — What you’ll hear when Bach Choir makes its debut in Easton
- February, 2018 (Lehigh Valley Stage) — “Mr. Bach Comes to Call” continues to engage 10 years later
- February, 2018 (The Morning Call) — Bach Family Concert: Spend an afternoon with Mr. Bach
- February, 2018 (Bethlehem Press) — ‘Bach Comes to Call’ on Tenth Anniversary
- January, 2018 (The Morning Call) — Classical: Bethlehem’s Bach at Noon to feature new edition of Telemann concerto
- December, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Classical: Bach Choir Christmas concerts feature ‘A Child’s Christmas in Bethlehem’
- November, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Remarkable young voices of world-famous Thomanerchor fill Central Moravian Church at Bach Choir gala
- October, 2017 (The Morning Call) — What to Expect when Thomanerchor – once led by J.S. Bach himself – performs in Bethlehem
- July, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Biking to Bach (at Noon); Allentown children make pilgrimage to hear classical concert
- May, 2017 (The Bethlehem Press) — Concert Review: Bethlehem Bach Festival gives ‘To God Alone The Honor’
- May, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Review: ‘Nightingale’ at Bethlehem Bach Festival elaborate, colorful and unique in its use of puppets
- May, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Review: Chamber Music in the Saal at Bethlehem Bach Festival a beautiful, intimate experience
- March, 2017 (The Whole Note) — Bach in Bethlehem, Verdi in Jerusalem
- March, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Review: Bach Choir captures spirit of Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Mass’ in celebratory concert
- March, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Bethlehem’s Bach Choir to provoke, inspire with Bernstein’s ‘Mass’
- February, 2017 (Lehigh Valley Stage) — “The Nightingale” delightfully blends Bach with puppets
- February, 2017 (WFMZ Arts Around Town) — Marionettes Join Bach Choir for “The Nightingale”
- February, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Bach Choir Joins with Mock Turtle for World Premiere
- January, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Callboard: Zimmermann’s Auditions
- January, 2017 (The Morning Call) — Bach at Noon
- December, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Review: Bach Choir Christmas concert a gift for the season
- December, 2016 (The Morning Call) — The Musical Feast of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
- November, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Review: Intoxicating vocal artistry from Roomful of Teeth at Bach Choir gala at Moravian College’s Foy Hall
- November, 2016 (The Morning Call) — How Roomful of Teeth, performing in Bethlehem, creates chamber music without any instruments
- September, 2016 (Huffington Post) — Bethlehem’s Enduring Bach Festival: GPS For The Soul
- September, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Bach at Noon Begins 12th Season
- June, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Bach at Noon Returns to Allentown
- June, 2016 (Press Release) — Bch at Noon – Allentown summer Series Expanded
- May, 2016 (Bel Canto Press Release) — Bel Canto Announces Auditions for 2016-2017 Season
- April, 2016 (Bel Canto Press Release) — Bel Canto Announces Spring Concert: Concert for Peace
- April, 2016 (Press Release) — The Bach Choir of Bethlehem Holds 109th Annual Bach Festival May 13-14 & May 20-22, 2016
- March, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Review: Magnificent performance of ‘The Passion’ by Bach Choir keeps tradition alive
- March, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Bethlehem’s Bach Choir Presents St. John Passion
- March, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Review: Youth Choirs Mesmerize at Annual Bach Choir Family Concert
- February, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Annual Bach Choir Family Concert showcases youth choirs
- January, 2016 (Bucks County Herald) — Bach Choir, Bel Canto Chorus create partnership
- January, 2016 (Bucks County Herald) — Bach Festival, Zimmermann’s Cafe offer performance opportunities
- January, 2016 (The Morning Call) — Bel Canto Children’s Chorus joins Bethlehem’s Bach Choir in new alliance
- December, 2015 (Chorus America Profile) — Meet a Donor: Greg Funfgeld, Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- December, 2015 (The Morning Call) — Review: Bach Choir glorious in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
- December, 2015 (Lucid Culture) — Review: Christmas in Bethlehem
- October, 2015 (New York Arts) — The Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s Upcoming Season, with a Backward Look at the Bach Festival in May 2015
- May, 2015 (Wall Street Journal) — Review: Melody Deeply Rooted in Human Faith
- December, 2014 (New York Arts) — The Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s Christmas Concert, a Review and Interview with Music Director Greg Funfgeld—to Air on Christmas Day at 8pm on WWFM