Jul 08, 2013 Print This Article

Bach at the Sem Announces 2013-2014 Season

Bach at the Sem, presented by Concordia Seminary and the American Kantorei, enters its 21st season with a full schedule of Sunday concerts: Oct. 20, Dec. 1, Feb. 16, and April 6. All concerts are at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the campus of Concordia Seminary in Clayton, Mo. A free will offering is taken at each concert.

Bach at the Sem begins another season in October on the Concordia Seminary campus, continuing a longstanding tradition of performing J. S. Bach’s music in a sacred setting,” Concordia Seminary’s Dean of the Chapel Kent Burreson commented. “The Seminary, host for the series, is pleased to present this season’s offerings to the St. Louis community. The American Kantorei will be led by four accomplished guest conductors who specialize in Baroque music. We know that each conductor’s professionalism and conducting style will enrich the concerts and match the high standards Bach at the Sem audiences expect.”

The season begins with guest conductor Mr. Bálint Karosi (Oct.), a native of Hungary, who is minister of music at First Lutheran Church of Boston and is pursuing a doctorate in composition at the Yale School of Music. Dr. Martin Dicke (Dec.) serves as cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Ill., and conducts the Peoria Bach Festival. Dr. Maurice Boyer (Feb.), from Aix-en-Provence, France, is assistant professor of music at Concordia University Chicago. Dr. Jeffrey Wilson (April) is chairman of the music department and director of choral activities at Greenville College in Illinois.

Since its inaugural season in 1993, the American Kantorei, the performing group of Bach at the Sem, has presented to the communities of Concordia Seminary and St. Louis at large nearly 100 concerts of the music of premier Lutheran composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as music of Schütz, Buxtehude, Mendelssohn and other Lutheran composers. Performances take place in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the Concordia Seminary campus. Annual seasons generally include four concerts — featuring cantatas, motets and other major works — as well as solo organ repertoire on the 63 rank Casavant Organ.

More detailed information on each concert and guest conductor, as well as on the American Kantorei and its personnel, may be found on the Bach at the Sem website at http://bach.www.csl.edu.