Bach Festival 2025

Inspired by Bach’s famous walk of over 200 miles from his hometown to hear the organist/composer Dietrich Buxtehude, the theme of the 33rd season of the festival is Journeys. Each and every one of us have our own journeys that shape our lives in many different ways. Join us this summer as we journey together through wonderful performances of beautiful and captivating music exploring this theme.

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Festival Concerts

Festival Concert I

Friday, June 13
Lehman Auditorium | 7:30pm

Starburst Jessie Montgomery

Brandenburg Concerto no.5 in D major, BWV 1050. J.S. Bach

Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer) Gustav Mahler
I.Wenn mein Schatz Hochzeit mach
II. ‘Ging heut’ Morgen über’s Feld
III. Ich hab ein glühend Messer
IV. Die zwei blauen Augen von meinem Schatz

Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune Claude Debussy

Suite from Appalachian Spring Aaron Copland

Festival Concert II

Saturday, June 14
Lehman Auditorium | 7:30pm

Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066 J.S. Bach

Ein deutsches requiem, Op. 45 Johannes Brahms
I. Selig sing, die da Leid tragen
II. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras
III. Herr, lehre doch mich
IV. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen
V. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit
VI. Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt
VII. Selig sind die Toten

Special Events

Leipzig Service

Sunday, June 15
Lehman Auditorium | 10:00am

Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104 J.S. Bach

VIRGINIA BAROQUE ACADEMY FACULTY CONCERT

Thursday, June 12
Asbury United Methodist Church | 7:30pm

17th CENTURY SURVIVAL AND RESTORATION
Trio Sonata for Violin, Viola da gamba, and Harpsichord John Jenkins

Greensleeves to a Ground, for Recorder and continuo Anon. from The Division Flutist

Selections for Lyra-Viol solo Tobias Hume
[Untitled] (from The Manchester Book)
Life
Deth
Loves Farewell

Song: Under the Greenwood Tree Thomas Arne

Sonata 1 for Violin, Viola da gamba and Continuo William Corbett
Adagio
Fuga allegro
Adagio – Largo
Allegro

Intermission

Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord, BWV 1019 J.S. Bach
Allegro
Largo
Allegro
Adagio
Allegro

Sonata 2 on a Scottish Air, for Recorder, Violin, and continuo F. Geminiani Bush aboon Traquair

Song: When Icicles Hang By The Wall Thomas Arne

Ground for Harpsichord William Croft

Sonata 3 for Recorder, Violin, Gamba, and continuo John Blow
Presto – Adagio – [Allegro] – Presto da capo

Rock Bach @ Pale Fire

Tuesday, June 10
Pale Fire Brewing Co. | 7:00-9:00pm

Join us for the first ever “Rock Bach @ Pale Fire” event! Inspired by Bach’s fun-loving side, this concert hosted by Pale Fire Brewery is the perfect way to unwind, have some fun, and hear some great music in a casual setting featuring popular Shenandoah Valley alt-country rock band Dogwood Tales. This is sure to be an evening not to be missed!

BAROQUE WORKSHOP FINAL CONCERT

Saturday, June 14
Martin Chapel | 11:00am

Join the participants of the Virginia Baroque Academy Workshop as they present chamber works from 17th- and 18th- century instrumental and vocal repertoire, as well as “The Judgement of Paris”, dramatic excerpts from the settings by John Weldon, John Eccles, and Daniel Purcell.

Noon Concert Series

Asbury United Methodist Church | 12:00pm

Join us for the opening concert of our Journeys season featuring SVBF soloist, baritone David Newman in Schubert’s famous song cycle Winterreise (Winter Journey).
Winterreise by Franz Schubert
1. Gute Nacht
2. Die Wetterfahne
3. Gefrorne Tränen
4. Erstarrung
5. Der Lindenbaum
6. Wasserflut
7. Auf dem Flusse
8. Rückblick
9. Irrlicht
10. Rast
11. Frühlingstraum
12. Einsamkeit
13. Die Post
14. Der greise Kopf
15. Die Krähe
16. Letzte Hoffnung
17. Im Dorfe
18. Der stürmische Morgen
19. Täuschung
20. Das Wegweiser
21. Das Wirtshaus
22. Mut!
23. Die Nebensonnen
24. Der Leiermann
David Newman, baritone
Marvin Mills, piano
This Noon Concert is sponsored by the E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
David Newman is sponsored by Edward Jones - Kathy Armentrout & Ken Surber
In this concert we retrace Bach’s famous 250-mile journey on foot to hear the famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude. This concert features organ works by Buxtehude, Bach and more, as well as chamber music with organ. Join us for this “organ extravaganza” with virtuoso organists!

Trio Sonata in e minor by Dietrich Buxtehude
I. Allegro
II. Largo
III. Presto
IV. Vivace
V. Adagio
VI. Poco presto
VII. Lento
VIII. Prestissimo

Amy Glick, violin
Paige Riggs, cello
Marvin Mills, organ

Kraut und Rüben (Cabbage and Beets)byJ.S. Bach
La Capricciosa by Dietrich Buxtehude
Variations 1 (Aria), 8, 17, 12, 20, 21, 23, 31, 32
Goldberg Variations by J.S. Bach
Variations 9 & 30 (canons)

Bradley Lehman, harpsichord

Jesus Christus, unser Heiland by Dietrich Buxtehude
Bradley Lehman, clavichord and organ

Praeludium in g minor by Dietrich Buxtehude
Fugue in d minor by J.S. Bach
Bradley Lehman, organ

Prelude and Fugue in g minor by Marcel Dupré
Prelude and Danse Fugue by Gaston Litaize
Marvin Mills, organ
This Noon Concert is sponsored by Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community
Amy Glick is sponsored by LaDene King & Gretchen Nyce
Join us for a concert featuring exciting new compositions. This concert features a new sonata for viola and piano by award-winning composer Scott Wheeler, performed by the composer himself and SVBF violist and principal violist of the Virginia Symphony Celia Daggy. The concert also features a brilliant trio “Three American Songs” by SVBF principal oboist Stephen Key along with other SVBF Musicians.
Lavender Jump by Ryan Davis
Audrey Pride, violin
Danielle Wiebe Burke, viola

Suite for Solo Cello by Gaspar Cassadó
I. Preludio-Fantasia - a Zarabanda
Carl Donakowski, cello

Town Light by Yuko Uebayashi
Cari Shipp, flute
Shannon Vendzura, flute
Lise Keiter, piano

Three American Songs by Stephen Key
Stephen Key, oboe
Diane Phoenix-Neal, viola
Ryo Yanagitani, piano

Blue Ridge Suite by Scott Wheeler
I. Highway to Chesapeake Bay
II. The Governor’s Mansion
III. Shenandoah
IV. Fire on the Mountain
Celia Daggy, viola
Scott Wheeler, piano
This Noon Concert is sponsored by Bill Polhill
The Blue Ridge Suite is sponsored by Don Albright
Diane Phoenix-Neal is sponsored by Marianne Halterman
This concert features Schumann’s beloved chamber music masterwork, Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op.44 along with some other gems of the repertoire. Featuring SVBF artistic director David Berry and SVBF friends, this is sure to be an exciting and beautiful concert!
Quartettsatz, D 703 by Franz Schubert
Jacob Roege, violin
Wanchi Huang, violin
Celia Daggy, viola
Kelley Mikkelsen, cello

Piano Quintet by Robert Schumann
I. Allegro brillante (1810-1856)
II. In modo d'un marcia. Un poco largamente
III. Scherzo: Molto vivace
IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Audrey Pride, violin
Violaine Michel, violin
Thomas Stevens, viola
Paige Riggs, cello
David Berry, piano
This Noon Concert is sponsored by an anonymous friend
Jacob Roege is sponsored by Grayson Sless & David Lane
Join us for a concert featuring our SVBF orchestra musicians performing a few of their favorite chamber music pieces! This concert will also feature our “rising star” 1st place winner of the 2025 EMU High School Music Competition.
Partita No. 2 by J.S. Bach
I. Allemande (1685-1750)
Hillary Arimoto, violin

Suite for Oboe, Clarinet, and Viola by Randall Thompson
I. Gaio
II. Adagio assai
III. Allegro
IV. Lento religioso
V. Grave - Allegretto
Mary Riddell, oboe
Lynda Dembowski, clarinet
Diane Phoenix-Neal, viola

Langsamer Satz by Anton Webern
Patrick Shaughnessy, violin
Zachary Windsor, violin
Brooke Mahanes, viola
Kelley Mikkelsen, cello

Three Songs by Johannes Brahms, arr. Ralph Lockwood
The Final Countdown by Joey Tempest, arr. Seb Skelly
Judith Saxton, trumpet
Chris Carrillo, trumpet
Jay Chadwick, horn
Jay Crone, trombone
Kevin Stees, tuba

My Favorite Things by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Chandra Cervantes, horn
Jay Chadwick, horn
Tara Islas, horn
Roger Novak, horn
This Noon Concert is sponsored by the E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Foundation
Diane Phoenix-Neal is sponsored by Marianne Halterman
Chandra Cervantes is sponsored by David & Mary Wick