Bach Society of St. Louis

Press play on the latest Bach Talk episode to meet Stephen Eros, Assistant Conductor of The Bach Society of Saint Louis.

In Episode 10, host Ron Klemm and Stephen chat through music, mentorship and teamwork. He shares his journey from growing up in Belleville, Illinois, to leading a professional choir and highlights the important role his family and mentors like A. Dennis Sparger have had on his career. Explore Stephen's passion for leading both a church choir and a professional ensemble and learn how he brings depth to music through meaningful text.

Listen to Other Duties as Assigned wherever you listen to podcasts. 🎙️

What an exciting day and what a wonderful season! On Sunday, we concluded our season with a sold-out concert! Thanks to all who attended and participated in making The Heart of Bach so magical and memorable. A very special thanks to all of our sponsors and donors who continue to invest in our mission of bringing the music of J. S. Bach to our community.

Featuring:
The Bach Society Chorus
A. Dennis Sparger, Music Director & Conductor
Stephen Eros, Assistant Conductor
Sandra Geary, Accompanist
Ken Kulosa, Cello
Anita Hagerman, Bass
Ron Klemm, Audience Hymn Conductor
Guest Organists: David Erwin, Heather Martin Cooper, Matthew Gerhardt and Jae Park

This we invite you to join other members of the community in supporting the mission of The Bach Society of Saint Louis with a donation. This special day of generosity is hosted by the St. Louis Community Foundation. Join us for a day of giving!
To make a donation, go to givestlday.org/organization/bachsociety

Are you an experienced choral singer who loves singing a wide range of styles and would like to join one of the most prestigious choruses in the St. Louis area? Consider auditioning to join us! Volunteer and paid singer positions are available for the 2024-2025 Concert Season. Check out our website for audition requirements and to request an audition. bachsociety.org/audition

The Young Artist Award Program was established to enhance professional training for career-oriented singers. Recipients of the award receive an annual stipend and are provided with experiences to strengthen their development as soloists and professional choral singers.

More information about audition requirements, eligibility and benefits can be found on our website. bachsociety.org/young-artists

This weekend, join The Bach Society Chorus and other local choruses for a joyous community sing-along, accompanied by The Bach Society Orchestra! 🎶 All experience levels welcome! Participation is free, but advanced registration is strongly encouraged due to limited capacity.

Don't miss singing some of your favorites, including Schubert’s Mass in G and Handel's Hallelujah Chorus! Led by The Bach Society’s Assistant Conductor, Stephen Eros.

Event Details:
📆 Saturday, May 4th
🕚 11 AM - 1 PM
📍The Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/Fest24Community

Experience the awe-inspiring talents of the 2023-2024 Bach Society Young Artist award recipients this weekend! You'll enjoy a variety of music including selections from opera, oratorio and musical theatre repertoire. Join us for this FREE concert on Sunday, April 28 at 4 PM at Second Presbyterian Church.

Secure your tickets now at https://tinyurl.com/Fest24Showcase. Admission is free, but due to limited seating, we strongly encourage advanced registration.

This concert is presented in collaboration with the Couts Music Series at Second Presbyterian Church. See you there!

Featuring:
Rita Schien, soprano
Sarah Collins, soprano
Kelly Beekman, mezzo-soprano
Parker Miller, baritone

We had an amazing team of artists for this morning's Education Concert, sponsored in part by Moneta. What a special event!

THANK YOU:
Program Manager, Danielle Feinstein
Baritone, Parker Miller
Soprano, Rita Schien
Soprano, Sarah Collins
Mezzo-soprano, Kelly Beekman
Pianist, Sandra Geary

Bach Talk Episode 9 just dropped! 🎙️

A professor, musician and concertmaster all in one! Violinist Lenora-Marya Anop joins host Ron Klemm and Maestro A. Dennis Sparger to discuss the challenges and rewards of interpreting Bach's music and more. She shares the story of her musical journey, from her start with Suzuki lessons at age three to her most recent triumph at Carnegie Hall. In her role as Concertmaster with The Bach Society Orchestra for nearly 25 years, Lenora’s passion for Bach's music continues to shine, and her joyful, collaborative spirit continues to bring musical magic to the stage.

Listen to From the Front Row wherever you listen to podcasts. 📻

We can't wait to meet everyone tomorrow (April 23rd) during our FREE Education Concert at 10 AM! This daytime performance will give a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into pursuing a career in music and provides an opportunity for students to enjoy an interactive experience featuring the 2023-2024 Bach Society Young Artists.

This event is free and open to the public.
Sponsored in part by Moneta
Learn more on our website at https://tinyurl.com/BachEdu24

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Bach at the Bistro as members of The Bach Society Chorus sang their hearts out to some of our favorite musical theatre hits from the silver screen on Tuesday night! Enjoy some snapshots of the fun. 📷

Congratulations on this showstopping performance to Kay Guebert, Kelly Beekman, Danielle Feinstein, William Kinsella, Parker Miller, Kurtis Heinrich, and Scott MacDonald, under the direction of Jamie Eros, with Stephen Eros as music director and pianist, accompanied by Adam Kopff on drums and Anita Hagerman on bass.

It’s always hard to say “So Long, Farewell” to our concerts, but we know “Blue Skies” are ahead with the rest of the St. Louis Bach Festival. Learn more at tinyurl.com/BachFestival24.

Don’t miss the Creative Missouri convening on April 27! Come celebrate the creativity and innovation of Missouri arts. Everyone’s welcome—artists, arts administrators, and art lovers from all over the state! It’s at the Presser Arts Center in Mexico. The day is packed with short and sweet presentations and performances.

Find out more and register to attend at creativemissouri.org. The Missouri Arts Council is orchestrating this first statewide convening for the arts in 24 years. Come to network, get engaged, and be inspired! And share this post to spread the news!

...And we can't wait for you to hear them! 📣
On April 20th at 3 PM at Salem United Methodist The Bach Society Orchestra presents the Brandenburg Concertos as part of the 2024 St. Louis Bach Festival.

Lenora-Marya Anop will lead members of the Bach Society Orchestra in sharing these timeless compositions. Learn more about this concert and other 2024 St. Louis Bach Festival events at tinyurl.com/BrandenburgFest

Presented by Tad and Catherine Edwards
Sponsored in part by Bill and Jane Doub and Dan and Beth Eckles

We are thrilled that our 2024 St. Louis Bach Festival was featured in the current issue of Town & Style Magazine!
Check out the full article by Stephanie Wallace at townandstyle.com/music-that-moves/

Article: Town&Style
Photo Credit: Rick Miller Photography

Join us for a fun-filled cabaret show, Bach at the Bistro: A Night at the Movies with The Bach Society of Saint Louis! Enjoy timeless tunes from cherished shows like Grease, West Side Story, Les Miserables and many more. From the catchy "Summer Nights" to the stirring "On My Own," this lineup promises a night of toe-tapping and nodding along. Get your tickets today for the April 16th concert at https://tinyurl.com/BachAtTheBistro
Directed by Stephen and Jamie Eros.

Featured Performers:
Kay Guebert
Kelly Beekman
Danielle Feinstein
William Kinsella
Parker Miller
Kurtis Heinrich
Scott MacDonald
Adam Kopff, drums
Anita Hagerman, bass

Unite your voice with The Bach Society Chorus and other local choruses for a joyous community sing-along, accompanied by The Bach Society Orchestra! 🎶 Don't miss singing some of your favorites, including Schubert’s Mass in G and Handel's Hallelujah Chorus!
Led by The Bach Society’s Assistant Conductor, Stephen Eros.
All experience levels are welcome! Participation is free, but advanced registration is strongly encouraged due to limited capacity.

Event Details:
📆 Saturday, May 4th
🕚 11 AM - 1 PM
📍The Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/Fest24Community

Join us as we celebrate the exceptional talents of our 2023-2024 Bach Society Young Artist award recipients! Experience a diverse selection of opera and oratorio music for FREE. Reserve your seat due to limited capacity.
Presented in collaboration with the Couts Music Series at Second Presbyterian Church.

Featuring:
Rita Schien, soprano
Sarah Collins, soprano
Kelly Beekman, mezzo-soprano
Parker Miller, baritone

Reserve your tickets at https://tinyurl.com/Fest24Showcase

The Bach Society Annual Gala—A Perfect Fifth is just a week away and we can't wait to spend the evening together. ✨

This event wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors! 👏
Platinum Sponsors: Harley Smith & Veronica Hilyard | Jim & Ann Lindemann
Gold Sponsors: Charles & Julie Cobaugh | Tom & Suzanne Hough
Silver Sponsors: Marie Bone & Michael Clear | David T. Cox | Leslie and Nelson Wainwright

🎙️ The latest episode of Bach Talk is live!

Explore the intriguing world of Johann Sebastian Bach with this captivating Bach Talk episode featuring tenor, author, historian and Bach expert David Gordon. Join host Ron Klemm as they uncover fascinating details about Bach's daily life in Leipzig, Germany during the 18th century.

Gordon challenges misconceptions about Bach as a stern figure, highlighting his sense of humor, love of life and the importance of his family. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain a unique perspective on Bach's life and times.

Listen to Episode 8: Leipzig Life wherever you listen to podcasts. 📻

Get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into pursuing a career in music during our FREE Education Concert on Tuesday, April 23rd at 10 AM! This school-time performance presents the opportunity to enjoy a range of musical tastes from musical theatre to classical favorites featuring the 2023-2024 Bach Society Young Artist award recipients.
As a plus, you’ll get to hear directly from early-career singers about the various paths that led them to pursue a career in music.

Sponsored in part by Moneta
Learn more on our website at https://tinyurl.com/BachEdu24

Indulge your senses as The Bach Society Orchestra brings J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos to life, each boasting its distinct personality and allure, while showcasing his diversity and ability to highlight various instruments.

Join us on April 20th at 3 P.M. at Salem United Methodist Church for this concert featuring Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 alongside Bach’s Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D Major, featuring harpsichordist Charles Metz.

Lenora-Marya Anop will lead members of the Bach Society Orchestra in sharing these timeless compositions. Learn more about this concert and other 2024 St. Louis Bach Festival events at https://bachsociety.org/festival

Presented by Tad and Catherine Edwards
Sponsored in part by Bill and Jane Doub and Dan and Beth Eckles

Yesterday's lineup of soloists with Maestro Sparger performed for a full house with over 500 in the audience! What was your favorite moment of the concert?

Thank you to our guest soloists Emily Donato and Gene Stenger, Tenor for preparing such a lovely program for our donors. Accompanied by Stephen Eros, BSSL Assistant Conductor. We can't wait to hear them sing more on Sunday!

Enjoy an evening of your favorite musical theatre hits from the silver screen. Prepare to be taken on a nostalgic journey as individual members of The Bach Society Chorus take the stage at the Bistro to launch the start of the 2024 St. Louis Bach Festival.

Head over to our website to learn more about this fun-filled night at Jazz St. Louis on April 16, 2024, at 6 PM. https://tinyurl.com/BachAtTheBistro

A new Bach Talk episode is available now!

Don’t miss this insightful conversation with Dr. Stephen Morscheck, a seasoned bass-baritone singer and professor of vocal studies at the University of North Texas. He’s returning to St. Louis to once again sing the role of Jesus in Bach’s St. John Passion. What goes into preparing for such a unique role? He shares insights into the intricate process of embodying characters like Jesus in Bach's compositions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the text, theology and musical nuances. He answers this and more during his conversation with host Ron Klemm.

Listen to Episode 7: The Ultimate Portrayal wherever you listen to podcasts. 📻

See Stephen Morscheck perform live next month with The Bach Society on Sunday, March 10th, during Bach's St. John Passion at the First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood. Experience the exhilarating themes of sacrifice, redemption and ultimate hope through the poignant retelling of the Passion story according to St. John. Get your tickets at https://bachsociety.org/stjohnpassion.

Next month, on Sunday, March 10, we will welcome a group of internationally recognized baroque soloists to The Bach Society stage as guest artists for Bach's St. John Passion.

Featured Soloists:
Tenor Steven Soph, as the Evangelist
Bass Stephen Morscheck, singing the words of Jesus
Soprano Emily Donato
Jay Carter, countertenor
Gene Stenger, Tenor
Baritone Elijah Blaisdell

Learn more and get your tickets at http://tinyurl.com/bachSJP24.