Founded in 1898, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem presents more than 40 concerts and educational programs each year for thousands of people who attend from across the country and around the world.

To culminate the celebration of their 125th anniversary season, the choir will present its 116th Bethlehem Bach Festival over two weekends in May. This year’s festival, led by artistic
director / conductor Christopher Jackson, includes recorder-playing star Vincent Lauzer as artist-in-residence, and will feature familiar works like the Brandenburg Concertos and
Goldberg Variations as well as the annual performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

The 2024 Festival will once again be offering the Ifor Jones Chamber Music Concert, Bach at 4, and Chamber Music in the Saal concerts and performances.

The 116th Festival also marks the return of Zimmermann’s Coffee House both weekends, showcasing extraordinary young musicians performing in a relaxed atmosphere, complete with a selection of German-inspired food and drink.

I recently spoke with Christopher Jackson about this year’s Bach Festival and more in this new interview.

Q: For people who may not know, can you give me a little bit of the backstory on the Bach Choir and its purpose and mission?

Christopher Jackson: We’ve been around since 1898 and are America’s oldest and longest running Bach Choir. We’re founded by many immigrants from Germany and what is now the Czech Republic and the Moravians are largely responsible for bringing over the music of Bach.

In terms of historical importance a lot of Bach’s music was performed for the very first time by this organization. We have a youth choir program that starts at the age of three and have
members of the choir who are over 80 and singing really well. We perform for audiences of all ages around the Valley including a music in hospice program. We really are attempting to
share the benefits of music at every stage of life. There are many other choral organizations in the U.S. that base their own Bach festivals off of what they experienced in Bethlehem.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Christopher Jackson by Clicking Here.