Thank you for visiting the website and our FAQs page! Please click on the section below  that addresses your questions about buying tickets, our concert season and learning more about us.

Should you need further assistance, please call the office at 610-866-4382 and speak to Renee James (ext. 115) or email her at renee@bach.org.

We look forward to seeing you!

COVID PROTOCOL for ALL BACH CHOIR CONCERTS & EVENTS:

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is committed to creating a comfortable, enjoyable and safe environment for our guests, musicians, volunteers and staff. We have adopted and followed safety protocols throughout the past several seasons to ensure your visit is safe and enjoyable, and revised them as warranted. The updated protocols below are in effect now and will be reviewed regularly to follow the latest public health recommendations.
Anyone feeling ill or experiencing symptoms related to a cold or infectious disease is asked to take care of their health and protect others by staying home.
Audience Members:  REVISED Attendance Protocol: September 1, 2022

Masks: Audience members are welcome to follow their own comfort level  regarding masks. We do not require them but they are certainly welcome at any Bach Choir or Bel Canto concert or event.  Please respect the choices of each individual patron.

Event protocol may change throughout the season based on a variety of factors. If  restrictions change, we will notify ticket holders through email and on our website.  This page is your best source for current information regarding our policies.

Ticket Policy: If you feel unwell or test positive for Covid, please do not attend the concert. We do not offer refunds but you may exchange your tickets as follows:

  • for another performance of the same concert
  • for another concert this season
  • donate the value of your tickets to The Bach Choir as a tax-deducible contribution that supports our Choir and our programs

Additional updates:  We are no longer requiring proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests.

By attending a Bach Choir concert or event, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. Your ticket purchase(s) acknowledges your consent to our policies.

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Summer 2022 Update:  *Please note:  Audience members are required to wear masks while indoors at all Bach Choir Concerts until further notice.  

This policy is subject to change, in accordance with guidelines from the CDC and the Commonwealth of PA and will be revised as more age groups become eligible for vaccination. The Bach Choir will continue to monitor the conditions that impact our policies and modify our restrictions as needed.

CLICK HERE to read our complete COVID policy.

How do I purchase tickets?

  • We are launching a new ticketing system in August, 2022.  It will be available to all patrons beginning August 25, 2022.
  • Place your ticket order online, through the mail or by phone: 610-866-4382 ext. 110 or ext. 115.
    • To order online, click Tickets at the top of our Home Page.
    • That will take you directly to a list of our concerts and you may proceed from there to choose your tickets and place your order.

Purchasing Tickets through our new system:

Click on Tickets at the top pf this page to reach our online Box Office

Choose the concert(s) you want to add to your cart
Add items to the cart:
You may add any mix of concerts and events to your cart before checking out. Choose from the events, listed chronologically by date.

Click on “Buy” to select your seat(s):
For reserved seating concerts, select a seat.
For General Admission concerts, add the quantity of tickets per Price Level.

Add more items to the cart or go to checkout

Check out: Keep an eye on the progress/navigation bar!  You can see what stage of the process you are in by seeing which item is underlined.

Delivery stage:

1. Review details, like seat selection, price, and fees

2. Make changes to your cart, if necessary, including:

  • Change price level
  • Change seats
  • Remove an item
  • Add More Items
  • Clear your cart

3. Select a delivery method from the drop-down list

4. Click Next after making your delivery selection

5. You may add a Donation at this stage

6. Use your discount code (if applicable)

7. Provide contact information:

  • Your order is complete! Just let us know who you are, and fill out the required fields

Finishing up the order:

Complete Payment and Submit the Order – add payment information and submit the order.

Done!

May I use a credit card?

Yes!  We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Our online server is secure and we do not store your card’s information without your permission.

How are tickets delivered?

  • Tickets to attend a Live Performance | Delivery: You may choose from the following to receive your tickets:  by mail, at “Will Call” to pick up at the performance venue, or Print-At-Home.
  • Tickets to view a Virtual Performance | Delivery:  After placing your VIRTUAL TICKET order, you will receive an email confirmation from The Choir with  information about viewing the concert.

Are seats reserved? 

Yes, many of our concerts offer reserved seats.  Concerts in Baker Hall at Zoellner Arts Center are General Admission tickets. See below for additional information about reserved  and Priority seats.

  • Reserved Seats: For concerts with reserved seats, you may choose your seat(s) by clicking your choice(s) on our seating charts online.
  • Please note:
    • VIRTUAL Christmas Concert tickets and VIRTUAL Mass in B Minor tickets do not have a seating chart.
    • Greg Funfgeld Family Concert is General Admission Seating; no seating chart shown.

Priority Seats: Guarantors may choose from the PRIORITY SEATS available at our Christmas and Spring Concerts.  (NOTE: Unsold Priority seats will be open to all patrons one week before the concert.)

What should I know about buying Bethlehem Bach Festival tickets?

2023 Bethlehem Bach Festival: Tickets are on sale in August, 2022, via mail or phone. The Festival goes on sale online in January, 2023.

  • Packer Church Concerts: All seats are reserved. Priority seating for Guarantors is determined by Guarantor number, based on availability and order deadlines. Guarantor Priority Seating order deadline:  December 6, 2022 and your seats will be confirmed following that date.  Once Guarantor seats have been confirmed, all patrons who have purchased Festival tickets will be seated in their purchased section using “best available” option.

What is your “latecomer” policy?

With respect for the artists performing at our concerts, and to provide an uninterrupted experience for our audience, we seat late-comers at the discretion of the Director, based on the music being performed. During designated pauses in each piece, we will seat you in the nearest available seat.  If the concert has an intermission, you may take your purchased seat at that time.

What is your refund policy?

  • 2022-2023 Ticket Policy: Bach Choir tickets are sold on a non-refundable basis. Please note: For any concert The Choir cancels this season due to COVID-19 restrictions, patrons may request a voucher toward a future ticket purchase, a refund for their tickets or donate the value of their tickets to The Choir.

Performance FAQ’s

WHAT TO WEAR
While our musicians dress formally for our performances, our audience is welcome to attend in casual clothes; or whatever makes you feel most comfortable! We don’t have a “dress code” to attend one of our performances; we hope that you’ll arrive ready to be transported by the music! In some cases, we’re performing in warm weather in beautiful, historic churches, some without air conditioning – dress accordingly for your comfort!

ARRIVAL
Bach Choir staff are on site to sell tickets “at the door” one hour prior to the start of the concert. Doors “open” for patrons to take their seats 30 minutes before the start of the concert. Please plan to arrive before the start time to allow time for parking, using the facilities, getting to your seat(s) and settling in. Our goal is to have everyone seated prior to the start time in order to begin all performances promptly as scheduled.

LATE ARRIVALS
At the discretion of the Artistic Director and Conductor, patrons who arrive after the performance begins will be asked by the ushers to wait in the outer lobby and/or be seated in available seats in the rear of the venue. If there is a “Conductor’s break” in the program, an usher will escort you to your seat at that time. If not, you will be able to take your assigned seat after the intermission.

SEATING ACCOMMODATIONS
Many Bach Choir concerts take place in churches and other non-traditional performance venues. Our online seating charts indicate ADA seating wherever available. Bearing in mind that some venues do not have designated spaces, we will do our best to accommodate wheelchairs and/or other mobility devices. Please call The Bach Choir office to confirm your individual needs for seating.

DURING THE PERFORMANCE
Please be respectful of your fellow patrons as well as the musicians performing for you by remaining as quiet and focused on the performance as possible. Bach Choir concerts typically run about two hours, with one intermission, although the duration of each piece varies. Once a performance has begun, we ask that you refrain for talking, whispering, singing or otherwise distracting others. Please do not go through personal belongings, unwrap candies or cough drops or interrupt the listening experience of those around you. Absent an emergency, please do not exit your seat while a performance is in progress. If you must leave your seat, please do so as quickly and quietly as possible and exit through the nearest door, or ask the nearest usher for assistance.

We love to see children and young people in our audience! Children who attend should be accustomed to sitting quietly and attentively for this amount of time. We ask parents / guardians to use their discretion when bringing a young person to one of our performances and introduce our music to their young family members our yond friends at the most appropriate time for each individual child.

PROGRAM NOTES
Bach Choir programs contain extensive program notes on the composer, the repertoire, the soloists, featured instrumentalists and other notes of interest about the program. Reading the program prior to the start of the performance or during the interval will add enormously to your enjoyment of the music.

APPLAUSE
Classical pieces usually contain several movements, all making up one complete piece. We ask that our audience applaud at the end of each piece, using the program as their guide to each movement and the end of each piece.

CAMERAS, CELL PHONES, AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT
Photography and video or audio recording at any Bach Choir concert is prohibited. Any recording or photography at a performance has been sanctioned and approved by The Choir. We ask that all electronic devices are turned off prior to the start of the concert. For the safety and comfort of our patrons, management reserves the right to open and inspect any bags or packages when entering or leaving this facility.

SMOKING
Bach Choir concerts are smoke-free. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited.

WEATHER CANCELLATION POLICY:

We do not cancel performances due to inclement weather and do not offer refunds or exchanges because of bad weather, whether that means snow, rain or extreme heat. In the winter months, please plan to leave home early, and travel safely.

If there is weather-related travel ban initiated by the State or City, the concert will be rescheduled or cancelled. If re-scheduled, your tickets will be honored at the rescheduled concert. A refund or credit voucher will be offered for any concerts cancelled by The Bach Choir.

Announcements of any schedule changes will be posted on our website and on our facebook and Instagram pages, and on our office phone message.

Should you have questions, please contact The Bach Choir Office at 610-866-4382.

The Bach Choir performs at a number of venues in our area.

Please see the lists, directions and maps on our web page HERE.

How old is The Bach Choir?

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is America’s oldest Bach choir.  Founded in 1898, we gave the first performance of J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor in this country in 1900.  In 1901, we gave the first performance of his Christmas Oratorio.  Our singers volunteer their time and talent,  and are chosen by audition to share this glorious music.

This season, we welcome our 7th Artistic Director and Conductor, Dr. Christopher Jackson, as he leads The Choir and Bach Festival Orchestra in his first season with us.  Please join us to welcome Christopher and enjoy the exquisite program of music he has programmed this year.

What do you perform each year?

We build each season around the music of J.S. Bach and other composers, mostly from the baroque period. However, Bach was influenced by and did influence many, many composers and we regularly perform music from contemporary composers as well. This year includes the following ticketed concerts and events:

We also present the following concerts/events free and open to the public:

  • Bach at Noon | Bethlehem
    • September – November; January – April
  • Bach at Noon | Allentown
    • June – August
  • Bethlehem Bach Festival:  Bach Outdoors, Distinguished Scholar Lecture, Chorale Sing prior to the Mass in B Minor

CLICK HERE to reach our season overview.  From this page, you can explore each concert in more detail on the website.

The links below will take you to a variety of pages on the website, with information about The Choir or contacts you can reach out to for additional information.

AUDITIONS:  Held each year, they will take place in July and August for The Bel Canto Youth Chorus and in September for The Bach Choir.

CHOIR HISTORY: please visit our Archive page for a brief overview of our organization’s history.

BACH 101:  This page is a bountiful resource of information about a number of Bach’s compositions, along with selected other composers.   Click on Bach 101 from the box at the top of the page.

YOUTH EDUCATION: Please choose “Bach to School” from the box at the top of the page to learn more about our program that reaches students with an interactive and fun program about the life and music of J.S. Bach.