Bach Institute

Since 2005, the Bach Institute has hosted a number of pre-eminent guest scholars. Recent symposia by guest scholars include:

• Bach in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen: Understanding the Genesis of Bach’s Compositional Style (Daniel Melamed)
• Bach in Weimar: 1714 – The Making of a Composer (Russell Stinson)
• Bach in Cöthen (James A. Brokaw)
• Bach and the St. John Passion.  Special symposium on Performance Practice and the History of the SJP (Christoph Wolff)
• Bach and the St. Thomas Church (Stephen Crist)

Phyllis Buehner ’54 and Richard Duesenberg ’51, ’53 J.D. have distinguished themselves by their remarkable generosity to Valparaiso University.

They have made an enduring impact through the establishment of endowed chairs; significant capital projects, including the Duesenberg Welcome Center, and the establishment of the Bach Institute in 2004.

As co-founders of the Bach Institute, their support ensures that world-class performances, meaningful symposia, and integral programming will keep the music of J.S. Bach at the center of the life of Valparaiso University.

Valparaiso University has an unparalleled relationship with the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany, where J.S. Bach served as cantor.

Throughout its history, the church and its St. Thomas Boys’ Choir have played a significant role in shaping Lutheran church music. In 1723, J.S. Bach was installed as St. Thomas’ director of music, a position he served for 27 years.

Throughout the last decade, Valparaiso University has developed a strong relationship with St. Thomas Church, and the Valpo Chorale is the only collegiate American choir to serve four residencies at the church. Because of the close partnership between the two institutions, Valpo offers a rare opportunity for music enthusiasts in the Midwest region to see the choir of Johann Sebastian Bach’s home church.

In June 2012, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the church, the Valparaiso University Chorale and Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., University President visited Leipzig for the annual Bach fest celebration. During this visit, President Heckler signed an agreement with the church resolving to continue the cultural, educational, and theological exchanges for many years to come. As part of this agreement, the Chorale will continue to perform at the St. Thomas Church, the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University will conduct scholarly endeavors in Leipzig, and St. Thomas clergy and cantors will contribute theologically and musically to Valpo’s campus.

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The American Bach Society “was founded in 1972 to support the study, performance, and appreciation of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in the United States and Canada. The American Bach Society produces Bach Notes and Bach Perspectives, sponsors a biennial meeting and conference, and offers grants and prizes for research on Bach.”

The festival began in 1970 at the University of Oregon, and now shares the works of J.S. Bach with audiences in Oregon’s major cities. The event also offers educational opportunities including master classes in conducting, The Berwick Academy for Historically Informed Performance, an organ institute, teachers’ workshops and more. In addition to in-person offerings, Oregon Bach Festival launched the Digital Bach Project featuring interactive explorations of the “B Minor Mass”, “Goldberg Variations”, “St. Matthew Passion”, and the “Well-Tempered Clavier”.

This public institution hosts concerts and master classes, and serves as a research center for the music of Bach. The International Bach Academy also shelters two of Germany’s most celebrated ensembles, the Gächinger Kantorei and the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart.