History of the Bach Society of Dayton

The Bach Society of Dayton was established in 2002 by singers from the former Dayton Bach Society when the trustees disbanded that organization after 27 years of operation and seventy-five percent of the chorus voted to continue. Seven chorus members were chosen to serve as trustees of the new organization. John Neely, Minister of Music of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, accepted our invitation to serve as Music Director. R. Alan Kimbrough, our long-time accompanist, continues in that capacity. The ensemble presented its inaugural concert on December 8, 2002, and, following the former Bach Society's long tradition, featured the Kettering Children's Choir as guest artists. The Bach Society of Dayton is now a chorus of 54 singers dedicated to bringing the art of great choral singing to Dayton and presenting four concerts each season. The chorus’ repertory spans seven centuries and includes presenting at least one major work each season. To date, these have included Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor and Requiem, J. S. Bach’s St. John Passion, and Mass in B Minor. Since 2003, we have had four grants from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) to support projects involving area young people and currently have a partnership and learning grant from the Ohio Arts Council for Project Sing with students from Xenia High School. We also have received two small grants from Culture Works to support operating expenses and an Ohio Arts Council Innovation grant in 2005 for the commissioning and premiere of a Psalm Triptych. In December 2006, the chorus was invited to join with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Chorus in a performance of Mozart's arrangement of Handel's Messiah. In 2007, the Miriam Rosenthal Trust Fund awarded us a grant for a collaborative project with Gem City Ballet in January 2009.

The Bach Society of Dayton’s normal performing venue is the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 3939 Stonebridge Road in Kettering, OH. The church has excellent acoustics with a magnificent organ, and is an ideal venue for both smaller scale and major works with full orchestra.

Mission

“The mission of the Bach Society of Dayton is to perform serious choral music both sacred and secular, including the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, for the Dayton community.”

Music Director

John Neely has been the Bach Society of Dayton Music Director since its inception in 2002. He is a graduate of Duquesne University, Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. An ordained Presbyterian Minister, Mr. Neely has served for the past 21 years as Associate Pastor for Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton. Under his leadership Westminster Church has an active and growing music program for all ages with six singing choirs and three handbell choirs.

Mr. Neely has taught in the music departments of Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Mt. Union College, Alliance, Ohio. He has been Dean of the Canton and Dayton Chapters of the American Guild of Organists and was national president of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. He is active in the tri-state area as an organ recitalist, choral clinician and oratorio accompanist.

Organization

The Bach Society of Dayton is governed by a Board of Directors, the majority of whom are members of the chorus, and is registered as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. The officers and directors of the corporation are: