Bethlehem, Pa. – The Bach Choir of Bethlehem proudly unveils the 117th Bethlehem Bach Festival—a reimagined, four-day celebration of Bach’s timeless genius and the vibrant legacy of the longest-running Bach festival in the United States. From May 8–11, 2025, audiences from near and far will experience an unforgettable weekend of beloved traditions, acclaimed performers, and fresh new programming—all across the scenic campus of Lehigh University and within the newly designated UNESCO World Heritage site in Historic Bethlehem.
This year marks a bold new chapter in the Festival’s history as we embrace a streamlined format, transforming the event into one immersive, long weekend filled with the music, scholarship, and community that define the Bethlehem Bach Festival. “By melding our Festival events into one seamless experience,” shares Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Christopher Jackson, “we’re heightening the sense of energy, intimacy, and shared experience that has always made this Festival so meaningful.”
Featured in this year’s performances is Festival Artist-in-Residence Rachell Ellen Wong, recipient of the prestigious 2020 Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition. Wong will grace the stage throughout the weekend, including a headlining performance at the Ifor Jones Memorial Chamber Music Concert, featuring Tartini’s Devil’s Trill Sonata, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, and works by Telemann and Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Returning Festival favorites include tenor Dann Coakwell, mezzo-soprano Meg Bragle, and soprano Sherezade Panthaki, with bass-baritone Jonathan Woody making his Festival debut. Beloved cornerstone programs will also return, including Bach at 4, showcasing the brilliance of Bach and his contemporaries; the intimate Chamber Music in the Saal, highlighting virtuosic and rarely heard gems; and Zimmermann’s Coffee House, where lively, informal performances evoke the spirited gatherings of Bach’s own time. Friday evening’s Bach at 8 concert in the majestic Packer Memorial Church sets the stage for the Festival’s crown jewel—Bach’s Mass in B Minor—on Saturday evening, a transcendent display of unforgettable music.
Among this year’s exciting new additions is “Outside the Bachs,” an interdisciplinary concert collaboration featuring Flamenco dancer Fanny Ara, guitarist William Coulter, and violinist Edwin Huizinga of Fire & Grace. Together, they’ll blend classical, folk, and contemporary traditions in a breathtaking exploration of Bach’s global influence.
Scholars and curious listeners alike will find inspiration in the “Cantata in Context” series with Bach scholar Dr. Daniel R. Melamed, featuring a guided exploration and multiple performances of Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140.
Community remains at the core of the Festival with events like the Chorale Sings, Family Storytime at the Bethlehem Area Public Library, and a special Bel Canto Youth Chorus performance in the Zoellner Arts Center. Festival-goers can also enjoy a rare glimpse into The Bach Choir’s past with a special screening of newly digitized archival films—including footage from the 1920s and the 1968 Bell Telephone Hour episode Going to Bethlehem.
“There’s truly something for everyone at this year’s Festival,” says Executive Director Leela Breithaupt. “Whether you’re a lifelong patron or attending for the first time, we invite you to come as you are and be transported—by music, by friendship, and by the joy of gathering together.”
Tickets and full schedule information are available at bach.org. Join us in Bethlehem this May to experience the joy, wonder, and magic of Bach like never before.
Event Details
What: Bethlehem Bach Festival
When: Thursday, May 8 to Sunday, May 11
Where: Lehigh University and Downtown Bethlehem
Tickets: Available at bach.org.
ABOUT THE BACH CHOIR OF BETHLEHEM
Founded in 1898 and comprised of 115 dedicated volunteer singers, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest American Bach Choir, performing the first complete U.S. renditions of Bach’s Mass in B Minor in 1900 and Christmas Oratorio in 1901. Under Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Christopher Jackson, the choir attracts thousands each year to Bethlehem, PA for its annual Bethlehem Bach Festival. Programming includes over 40 concerts and educational events per year, reaching an audience of more than 22,000 through outreach programs like Bach to School, Bach at Noon, interdisciplinary family concerts, and more. The choir’s latest recording, Mendelssohn/Bach Matthäus-Passion (2024) was released by Analekta, Canada’s largest indie classic label. The Bach Choir’s Bel Canto Youth Chorus, an educational program under the direction of Director Kelly Rocchi, is training the next generation of choral singers and cultivating a life-long passion for the choral arts. For more information, visit BACH.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Glenn Koehler
