The American Bach Society and The Bach Choir of Bethlehem announce... The First Biennial Bach Vocal Competition March 12, 2000   Bethlehem, PA 2008 Info     2006 Winners      2004 Winner       2002 Return to Bach Info Page

The very first competition was held on march 12, 2000, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The five judges were

• Greg Funfgeld (Music Director of the Bethlehem Bach Festival)
• J. Reilly Lewis (Music Director of the Washington (DC) Bach Consort)
• Don Franklin (conductor/organist and American Bach Society Board member)
• James Buswell (internationally renowned violinist and ABS Board member)
• David Gordon (Education Director, Vocal Coordinator and Master Class Director of the Carmel Bach Festival in California)

The ten finalists were selected from 40 applicants who submitted demo tapes. All finalists are 30 years of age or younger, and the repertoire is exclusively Bach. First Prize is $2,000 and a solo appearance in a concert next season with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

The judges' unanimous choice was mezzo-soprano Margaret Bragle.

Among the three Honorable Mentions was soprano Jennifer Ellis.

Both singers are former participants in the Adams Vocal Master Class of the Carmel Bach Festival: Ms. Ellis in 1998 and Ms Bragle in 1999. The two singers are friends and former college roommates.

The other two Honorable Mentions are Sumner Thompson, baritone and Christina Pier, soprano.

Here are the email addresses of the four winners:

Winner

Margaret Bragle    mbragle@hotmail.com

"Honorable Mentions"

Jennifer Ellis    jennierae@hotmail.com

Sumner Thompson, baritone    suethomp@indiana.edu

Christina Pier, soprano    cpier@indiana.edu