77th Annual Whittier College Johann Sebastian Bach Festival will celebrate Bach and the Cantata
WHITTIER, CA (March 3, 2014) – Whittier College presents the 77th Annual Bach Festival, “Bach and the Cantata”—the oldest collegiate Bach festival west of the Mississippi—April 2-6. This year’s festival programming includes a harpsichord recital with the Horizon Chamber Choir and Bach Ensemble featuring world-renowned baritone Rod Gilfry, Chorale Bel Canto concert, and solo harpsichord recital with noted Bach authority and Whittier College alumnus Raymond Erickson ’63.
In addition, the festival will include an interactive concert on Friday evening that allows the audience to step into the historic Leipzig kaffeehaus Café Zimmerman to enjoy the sounds of Bach and a cup of coffee.
The week long event will be held in the Whittier College Memorial Chapel, 13406 Philadelphia Street, Whittier, CA. For additional information or directions call (562) 907- 4237 or email rlitchfield@whittier.edu.
Wednesday, April 2
Luther Film
7:30 p.m.
Hoover 100
Showing of Luther [2003] in Hoover 100. The beginning of the Protestant Reformation is sparked by Martin Luther, a 16th century German monk, as seen in this biopic.
Friday, April 4
Bach Musicale
Admission is free
The annual Bach Musicale features Whittier College students performing music by Bach and his contemporaries.
Concert: Love, Loss, Nonsense, and Coffee
8 p.m.
Memorial Chapel
Admission $20, seniors $15, students $5
The Horizon Chamber Players conducted by Christian Campos will perform cantatas by J.S. Bach, including “Coffee Cantata” (BWV 211), in Love, Loss, Nonsense, and Coffee.
Saturday, April 5
Choral Concert
4 p.m.
Memorial Chapel
Admission $20, seniors $17, students $5
Choral Bel Canto conducted by Stephen Gothold will perform Cantata 11: Ascension Oratorio and Cantata 80: A Mighty Fortress.
For tickets to this concert, call (888) 460-9222 or visit www.choralebelcanto.org
Sunday, April 6
Harpsichord Recital
8 p.m.
Memorial Chapel
Admission $10, seniors and students $5
The Bach Festival will conclude with the Harpsichord Recital by Whittier College alumnus and Bach-authority, Raymond Erickson.
Raymond Erickson ’63, editor of The Worlds of Johann Sebastian Bach (Amadeus Press, 2009), is one of the most experienced teachers of historical performance practice in the nation, having taught it since 1975. Recently retired from Queens College and the Graduate Center, CUNY, he has given lectures and master classes on Bach interpretation in the US and Europe. He is a graduate of Whittier College and holds a Ph.D. from Yale.
Katherine Borst Jones, professor of flute, has been at Ohio State University since 1985 and has served as chair of woodwinds, brass and percussion since 1999. She was awarded the Distinguished Teacher award in 1995 and the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008. She is a founding member and co-principal flutist of the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.
Founded by Quakers in 1887, Whittier College is an independent, four-year college offering a traditional liberal arts program integrated with both professional and pre-professional courses of study. With an emphasis on diversity, community, and curricular innovation, the College’s primary mission is to endow students with the education, skills, and values appropriate for global leadership and service. Whittier College is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
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