BETHLEHEM, Pa. — From Christmas concerts to a unique performance by the St. Thomas Boy's Choir, America's oldest Bach choir offers a range of choices for classic music devotees.
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem's 2024-25 season will kick off with its Bach at Noon free performances, which start Sept. 10 and are held the second Tuesday of each month at Central Moravian Church.
The new programming is influenced by the Bach Choir's (founded in 1898) trip to Europe where it performed in Austria and Herrnhut, Germany.
Herrnhut is the ancestral city of Bethlehem’s Moravian settlers and recently joined with Bethlehem in celebrating inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"Last season's world-premiere recording and transformative tour to Germany and Austria were a tremendous success. As we step into the new season, we continue to innovate and inspire, bringing you a series of concerts that promise to transport you to new musical realms right from your seat," said Christopher Jackson, the choir's artistic director and conductor.
Bach Choir schedule
Bach at Noon
Enjoy some of the choir and orchestra's best choral works for free at the Central Moravian Church, 73. W Church St.
A special performance, which coincides with the 130th Bach at Noon concerts, will occur on Oct. 8.
When: 12:10 to 1 p.m. Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11 and April 8.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. at each show.
Bel Canto Youth Chorus Winter Concert
This year's "Hope for the World" show features the Da Capo Treble choir, Youth Chorale, and concert choir.
It will include a mix of music from Bach and Mozart to traditional American and Celtic "mouth music."
The audience will be invited to help conclude the performance with carol-singing.
When: 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, at the Wesley Church, 2540 Church St., Bethlehem.
Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Children under 10 years old are free.
Heavenly Christmas Concerts
The Christmas showcase will feature the music of Bach and Philadelphia composer Kile Smith.
Among them will be Bach’s Cantata BWV, "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star," and Smith's "The Consolation of Apollo," meant to capture Apollo 8 astronauts witnessing the Earth rise over the moon as shared in a Christmas Eve broadcast from 1968.
The concert will conclude with carols sung together with the audience, including the premiere of a Kile Smith setting of a Moravian hymn text, as part of the choir's Carol Commission project.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, 3231 Tilghman St., and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem.
Tickets: $45, or $9 (for students up to 22 years old).
Greg Funfgeld Family Concert and Youth Choirs Festival
Join the dance departments of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts and Muhlenberg College with members of the Bel Canto Youth Chorus and guests from Westminster Choir College.
Additionally, the Bach Choir, and members of the Bach Festival Orchestra, will perform selections from Mozart’s Requiem in D minor and Bach’s Mass in B minor.
When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Ave., Bethlehem.
Tickets: $18, $9 (students up to 22 years old).
Gala Concert and Fundraiser
Following the Bach Choir's European Tour, the St. Thomas Boys Choir of Leipzig (Thomanerchor) will perform at the Bach Choir's 2025 Gala.
St. Thomas' choir will feature works by Bach, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Felix Mendelssohn, and Johannes Brahms.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St., Bethlehem.
Tickets: Adults: $55; Students: $9
After the concert, the Bach Choir will hold its gala dinner and fundraiser at 6 p.m. at Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
Benefactor tickets cost $275 (includes Gala Concert premium reserved concert seating, cocktails reception, gourmet dinner, silent auction, and a charitable contribution to support our youth education programs).
Spring Concert
In partnership with the Westminster Choir College, the concert will feature Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Op. 37, "All-Night Vigil" ("Rachmaninoff Vespers"). The 130-voice combined choir will include soloists Luthien Brackett, Steven Brennfleck and Glenn Miller.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem.
Tickets: $45, Students (up to 22) $9
Bel Canto Youth Chorale Spring Concert
Join Da Capo Treble Choir and Youth Chorale for the spring concert, "In Harmony." Last spring the choir invited Vera Voce from Parkland High School to perform with it.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
Tickets: Adult, senior and student $15 in advance; $20 at the door. Children under 10 are free
117th Bethlehem Bach Festival
The Bach Choir will launch a new festival format condensed into four days with performances of Bach's Mass in B Minor, Bach at 8, Iifor Jones memorial Chamber Music Concert, Bach at 4, Chamber Music in the Saal and other performances held at Zimmerman's Coffee House.
This year's festival-artist-in-residence is violinist Rachell Ellen Wong.
New this year is the festival series Fire & Grace, an eclectic collaboration between guitarist William Coulter and violinist Edwin Huizinga.
The duo will incorporate classical, folk, and contemporary music from from around the world with flamenco dancer Fanny Ara.
For the lineup, click here.
When: May 8 - 11
Tickets: Adults $25-$68,;Students $9-$25
Summer Series in partnership with Arts at St. John’s
The season concludes with Bach at Noon freee performances at St. John's Lutheran Church, 37 S. Fifth St., Allentown.
Repertoire and soloists are to be announced.
When: June 10, July 8 and Aug. 12.
For info on the new season, visit bach.org.
