|
Founded in 1898, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest Bach Choir in America and gave the first complete performances in the USA of The Mass in B Minor (BWV 232) and The Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248). Under Greg Funfgeld's passionate and experienced direction, The Bach Choir now fulfills the promise of its early years. The 110 volunteers sing with the dedication and enthusiasm of The Bach Choir a century ago, but The Choir's performances featuring the finely-honed vocal ensemble, a fully-professional orchestra, and world renowned soloists reveal a new level of musicianship and understanding of J.S. Bach's choral universe. In 1998, The Choir was featured on CBS Sunday Morning as "a national treasure," and James R. Oestreich, reviewing The Choir's annual Bethlehem Bach Festival for The New York Times in May of 1998, described it as "one of American Musical Life's best kept secrets." The repertoire includes 133 cantatas, all of the motets, and 15 of Bach's larger works.
During its 100-year history, The Bach Choir has given performances at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, Symphony Hall in Boston, the Herkulessaal at Munich's Royal Residence, the Philharmonie in Berlin, and the Thomaskirche, Bach's church in Leipzig. During the 1999-2000 season, The Choir performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington and again at Carnegie Hall as part of the Centennial Celebration. Under Greg Funfgeld's leadership, The Choir has released four Dorian recordings, Wachet Auf!, Christmas in Leipzig, The Mass in B Minor (BWV 232), and The Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) in addition to the popular Christmas in Bethlehem, Volumes 1 & 2. The recording of The Mass was hailed by Ted Libbey in Early Music America (1999) as "a remarkable achievement."
The Choir's home season in Bethlehem consists of two Christmas Concerts, a Family concert in February designed for children grades 3-6 and their parents, a Spring Concert, the Annual Bethlehem Bach Festival over two weekends in May and a concert for Musikfest in August. In addition, Conductor Greg Funfgeld and a small ensemble from The Choir have performed for more than 35,000 children as part of The Choir's Bach to School educational outreach program held each year during the months of November and April. |
|
Soprano I:
Shannon Aloise-Gill
Corliss Bachman
Hannah Betz
Sienna Cowley
Roberta George
Emily A. Gross**
Nancy Williamson Hooke*
Katelyn Hughes
Meegan Hussain
Erynn R. Mann
Ramona Musso
Carrie Krug Nedick
Martha Cox Popichak
Amy Ruhf
Susan Shames
Rebekah Short
Roberta Wagner
Soprano II:
Patty Alercia
Emily Barger
Wendy Borst
Anna Chavolla - Choral Scholar
Susan Coenen
Stacy Gabel
Jesse Gehman
Lisa Hartman
Katherine Kaiser
Roberta Kasmiroski
Diane K. King
Christina Lamonica
Tina Lebrecht*
Michel Lloyd
Lynn German Long
Morgan Martin
Meg McKenna
Marie Miller
Nikki Seng
Riley Slate
Jordanna Sprayberry
Victoria Spruiell
Carolyn Williams |
Alto I:
Robin Anne Casalta Agoglia
Ashley Bair
Lynn Whitehouse Birney
Laura Carlson
Cora Castor
Mary-Kate Garcia
Lisa Harman
Grace Spruiell Hochella
Leslie Dreyer Kalra
Brittany Krug
Linda Lipkis
Natalie Maroun**
Johanna Pearson
Kate Racculia
Margaret Reighn*
Abigail Rochlin - Choral Scholar
Kelly Schmidt
Jean Anne Shafferman
Margaret Surdovel
Annette Thiel
Jean Donegan Vrabel
Cheryl McIver Whinney
Alto II:
Lynne Beck
Dorothy Z. Cockrell**
Rebecca Dabora
Maggi Daly
Jennifer Hay
Anna Holmwood
Leah Kun
Karlynn Miller*
Mary Zsido Paini
Jane Rivera
Beverly Rumble
Patti Sakdiponephong
Debbie Turton |
Tenor I:
Kurt C. Anchorstar*
Tony Anthony
Kevin Cone
Brian Dishong
Brendan D. James
Kyle Johnston
Edward Kennedy
Paul Klingman
Cory Ratiff
Guy Rauscher
Tenor II:
Dominic Behe
Jesus Castillo
Xinyuan Chen
Ryan Cole
Alan GaNun
Dustin Hartman
Jamie Henry
Dominic Lyons
David Mentzer
Michael Miller
Anthony R. Villani*
Christopher T. Wagner
Thomas Weber Jr. |
Bass I:
Tony Austin*
Harold G. Black
Paul Christiansen
Dodd Lamberton
Samuel Lingen - Choral Scholar
Fred Preuninger
Stephen Rivera
David Ruhf
John L. Sullivan
Richard Tariff
David R. Umla
Bass II:
Todd Fennell*
George Frothingham**
Bryan Gerhab
Bryan Hay
Brandon Perez
James Rowland
Peter Sierk
Phil Turton
John Weidemann |
