We make music magical. You make it possible.
Dear Friends and Music Lovers,
The 76th Annual Bach Festival is beginning soon, where together we celebrate the magic of music with our outstanding community of musicians, partners, and patrons like you.
This organization is deeply important to me. My Uncle John (actually my mother’s first cousin), John Tiedtke, was a close family member. Over the years I grew to admire John’s energy, his business acumen, his love of classical music, and his great philanthropic heart. In 2004, Uncle John asked me to become a Trustee of the Bach Festival Society and I readily accepted. I was already involved in the Society, as my wife Sarah had been singing with the Bach Choir for several years and I had become a committed concert attendee. Shortly after my appointment, Uncle John died, leaving a tremendous hole in the leadership of this organization. Within a year, I became President and since then have made it my goal to continue the wonderful music making and ensure that the Bach Festival Society has a bright future.
This organization is uniquely important to me, but the strength of our success lies with YOU—you make it possible with your continued support. Please consider designating a gift to the Bach Festival Society through the 2011 United Arts campaign. Your contribution ensures another year of music magic and artistic vibrancy. Any gift, regardless of the amount, will be increased by a 15% match from United Arts.
The funding we receive through the United Arts campaign provides artistic opportunities for our choir and orchestra, educational and enrichment programs for youth and seniors, and the outstanding performances and events you know and love.
Please click here to make a pledge to the 2001 United Arts Campaign. Don’t forget to designate your gift to the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park.
Thank you so much, and we hope you enjoy this year’s Bach Festival!
Eric Ravndal III
President
76th Annual Bach Festival Events Announced
“At a time when classical music must constantly defend itself in order to stay relevant, to live in an area that is this beautiful with such gifted musicians playing the best music is an unequaled opportunity for the people of the surrounding community. It is as close to any kind of a musical paradise as I’ve ever seen.”
-Barrymore Laurence Scherer, Music Critic for the Wall Street Journal
Schedule of Events
Classical Music 101
Saturday, February 12 at 7:00pm
Tiedtke Concert Hall
Tickets: This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required.
More information
Rebecca Owens, organ
Sunday, February 20 at 3:00pm
Knowles Memorial Chapel
Tickets: $25, General Admission Seating
More information
Open Rehearsal: Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor
Friday, February 25 at 6:45pm
Knowles Memorial Chapel
Tickets: This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required.
More information
A Conversation between John V. Sinclair and Terry Teachout
Saturday, February 26 at 7:00pm
Bush Auditorium
Tickets: Free event – limited tickets available. Reserve online by clicking here.
More information
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor
Sunday, February 27 at 3:00pm
Knowles Memorial Chapel
Tickets: Range from $20 to $50
SOLD OUT
More information
Concertos by Candlelight: Bach and Vivaldi
Saturday, March 5 at 7:30pm
Knowles Memorial Chapel
Tickets: Range from $20 to $50
SOLD OUT
More information
Pre-concert talk: St. John Passion
by Dr. J. Thomas Cook, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Rollins College
Sunday, March 6 at 1:30pm
Bush Auditorium
Tickets: This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required.
More information
J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion
Sunday, March 6 at 3:00pm
Knowles Memorial Chapel
Tickets: Range from $20 to $60
Only Tier 4 ($45) and General Admission tickets remain
More information
The Bach Festival Society celebrates its 76th Anniversary with timeless repertoire by Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi, among others. This year’s Festival presents a new program titled Concertos by Candlelight, which features the Bach Festival Choir, Orchestra and Youth Choir and soloists in a program of Baroque music in the historic Knowles Memorial Chapel. To bring an authentic and historical ambiance to the performance, the Chapel will be awash in beautiful candlelight.
The Bach Festival annually brings some of the best voices to Florida. This year’s featured soloists include soprano Sharla Nafziger, mezzo-soprano Barbara Rearick, tenor Robert Breault, and bass Kevin Deas. The all-star cast will be joined by tenor Brad Diamond in the role of evangelist on the St. John Passion.
The programs of this year’s Bach Festival are sponsored by generous contributions from Orange County Government through the Arts and Cultural Affairs programs, United Arts, Darden Restaurants Foundation, the Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation, Rollins College, and the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, with additional support from individual sponsors.
Music Lover’s Gift Guide
To view our Donor’s Edge portrait and donate online click here.
These great gift offers are for a limited time. Purchase before December 22, 2010. The Bach Festival Society offices will close December 24 thru January 3 for the holidays. All orders received after December 22, 2010 will ship after the new year.
Congratulations Young Artist Competition Winners
The Bach Festival Society congratulates the winners of the 18th Annual Young Artist Competition, held on Saturday, November 20. Over 50 entrants from around the state competed, with twelve prize-winning contestants advancing to the finalist round. The finalist recital was open to the public and was enjoyed by over 150 guests. The top three winners are listed below along with the piece each performed for the final round of judging. “This year’s competition drew strong competitors from throughout the state. We are very proud of all the talented musicians who competed,” said Artistic Director and Conductor John. V. Sinclair.
Grand Prize Winner:
Giancarlo Licitra, cello
Winter Springs, FL
Cello Concerto No.1 in Eb Major, Op. 107 by Dmitri Shostakovich
2nd Prize Winner:
Enoch Wong, piano
Orlando, FL
Rigoletto Paraphrase by Franz Liszt
3rd Prize Winner:
Deborah Wendt, harp
Altamonte Springs, FL
La Source by Alphonse Hasselmans
Other Competition Finalists listed in alphabetical order:
Rachel Beal, soprano; Winter Park, FL
Jake Chabot, flute; Orlando, FL
Gabrielle Chou, piano; Pembroke Pines, FL
Linsey Duca, soprano; Winter Springs, FL
John Li, piano; Oviedo, FL
Nathan May, double bass; Winter Park, FL
Joseph Prior, horn; Winter Park, FL
Thomas Stephenson, clarinet; Maitland, FL
Kamyron Williams, cello; Valrico, FL
About the Competition
This competition, generously sponsored by the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation and presented in partnership with the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, drew high school students from across Florida to compete for a combined prize purse of $5,000 in four categories: piano, strings, brass/woodwinds, or voice. Past winners have gone on to study at prominent schools such as The Juilliard School and Northwestern University, and many now lead successful music careers.
