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The American Bach Society and
The
Bach Choir of Bethlehem announce the...
Sixth Biennial Bach Vocal Competition
for American Singers
May
16, 2010 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2008 Winners 2006 2004 2002 2000
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The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and the American
Bach Society announce their sixth biennial competition for American singers with special interest
in the music of J. S. Bach.
On May 16, 2010, ten
finalists will appear before a panel of distinguished judges and a live audience in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The First Prize winner chosen by the judges
on that day will receive a career development grant of $3,000 and a solo performing opportunity with
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director & Conductor,
in a future season.
In addition to the first prize, up to three additional cash awards of $500 may be awarded to other finalists, at the judges' discretion.
Judges at the auditions on May 16, 2010, will
include
- Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- other distinguished Bach performers
and specialists, to be announced
ELIGIBILITY:
THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO CITIZENS
OF THE UNITED STATES BORN AFTER MAY 16, 1980.
(As of the finals on May 16, 2010, you
must not yet have reached your 30th birthday.)
AUDITION PROCEDURE:
Preliminaries:
- Preliminary application is by audio recording
only (details below).
- From these preliminary applications, ten finalists will be chosen.
- Application
Deadline MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010.
- All applications must be received by the Competition Administrator
on or before this date.
- All applicants will be notified no later than
April 10.
Finals:
- The ten finalists will sing in
Bethlehem, PA, on Sunday,
May 16, 2010, 12:30–3:00pm.
- Location: Peter Hall, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA 18018.
- At the finals, each singer will present two Bach arias of his/her choice, with piano accompaniment. Piano accompanist will be provided. Finalists may bring their own accompanist if desired.
- Finalists must provide their own
transportation to Bethlehem for the finals. By car, Bethlehem is 90 minutes north of Philadelphia and
ca. 2 hours west of New York City. (Google
Map)
- The nearest commercial airport is the Lehigh
Valley Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Airport website)
The finals occur at the conclusion of the final
weekend of the 2010 Bethlehem Bach Festival. Finalists may request complimentary tickets to any
concerts they wish to attend for this weekend of the Bethlehem Bach Festival. (Concerts take place on Friday
and Saturday. There are no Festival concerts on Sunday.)
Please visit the Bach Choir of Bethlehem's website www.bach.org to
view the Bethlehem Bach Festival schedule or email office@bach.org to request
a Festival ticket brochure.
HOW TO APPLY:
There is no application fee, and no special application form is necessary. Simply send the following material to the address listed below:
We charge no application fee; no special application form is needed. Simply send the following material to us at mailing address listed below. Application material is not returnable.
Résumé of
your education, training, and onstage experience. Tell us about yourself.
Photo for
our publicity purposes
Repertoire list: music you have performed or studied (opera/oratorio). Although we are especially interested in your experience singing Bach and the Baroque, we do appreciate having an overview of your repertoire.
Audio CD or cassette tape. The recording should include a minimum of two selections by J. S. Bach (Bach only, no other Baroque composers). At least one work should be in German. We recommend including arias from the Passions, the Christmas Oratorio, the Mass in B Minor, or cantatas. Arias only, please; no duets or ensembles.
Please Note: Audio CD or cassette tape only. We are unable to accept video tapes, DVDs, mini disks, or emailed mp3 files as audition material.
Letter(s) of recommendation from music professional(s) other than your current teacher. (A letter of recommendation is OPTIONAL, and is not a requirement, but is strongly advised).
Letters of recommendation may be emailed or sent as email attachments
if desired. Letters of recommendation may be emailed directly to bachinfo@spiritsound.com.
Please
DO NOT send résumés,
bios, photos, or mp3s as email attachments. We prefer to receive that sort of material in hardcopy
form. (You may send letters of recommendation as email or as email attachments.)
All application materials must be received at
the California address below no later than March 29, 2010. Please label all material with name and phone
number.
We will make every effort to choose the ten finalists
and notify every applicant no later than April 5.
Please send your material early.
For hints on applying for competitions and young artist programs,
please read David Gordon's "Advice for Applicants" page.
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Send your application to:
David Gordon
Post Office Box 4843
Carmel CA 93921
phone: 831/238.2934
email bachinfo@spiritsound.com
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For FedEx, UPS, and other overnight deliveries ONLY please use this
address:
David Gordon
7990 Carmel Valley Road
Carmel CA 93923
Phone 831-238-2934
(Please do not send ordinary US Mail to this address.)
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Please remember, we must RECEIVE all your application material
in Carmel, California on or before Monday March 29, 2010.
About the Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director and Conductor
Since its founding in 1898, the now-famous Bach
Choir of Bethlehem has been attracting thousands of national and international visitors every May to
its annual Bethlehem Bach Festival. The oldest Bach Choir in North America, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
gave the first complete American performances of The Mass in B Minor and The Christmas Oratorio.
The annual Bach Festival in May features the acclaimed Choir and Bach Festival Orchestra and world-renowned
soloists underr the leadership of Music Director Greg Funfgeld. The repertoire includes 136 cantatas,
all of the motets, and 15 of Bach's larger works. Read more about the Bach Choir here.
Please visit the Bach Choir of Bethlehem's website www.bach.org for the Festival schedule or email office@bach.org to request a Festival ticket brochure.
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