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. (For directions click here)

Past Concerts: 2006 - 2007

Sunday, October 22, 2006, 4:00 p.m. "Bach to Haydn"
Insanae et Vanae curae - Haydn
Mass in B Flat (Theresienmesse) - Haydn
Cantata 106 Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit - Bach
The Bach Society of Dayton's fifth season starts with a delightful sampling of Haydn's choral and instrumental compositions, including the fourth of Haydn's six masses and, of course, some Bach.

Soloists: Andrea Chenoweth, Soprano, Liza Forrester, Mezzo Soprano,
Randall Black, Tenor, Jeremy Kelly, Bass

Sunday, December 3, 2006, 7:30 p.m. "Sweet Sounds of the Holidays"
This always popular Holiday concert again builds upon our long-standing relationship with the Kettering Children's Choir and the Kettering Advent Ringers, but with a twist - this year we'll add some traditional Chanukka songs as well.

Wednesday, December 6, 2006, 8:00 p.m. Messiah at the Schuster Center
The Bach Society partners for the first time with the Dayton Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and Chorus in a presentation of Mozart's arrangement of Handel's Messiah. Mozart painted a somewhat grander scale for his arrangement, requiring larger forces than the traditional chorus, hence this exciting collaboration with the DPO.
This concert is not included in the Bach Society of Dayton concert series; tickets may be obtained through the DPO box office.

Sunday, March 18, 2007, 4:00 p.m. Mass in B Minor - Bach
Bach's masterpiece is the centerpiece of our season, and you will not want to miss this performance with full orchestra and an outstanding group of soloists. And be sure to attend the pre-concert program presented by Dayton's own Maestro Neil Gittleman.

Soloists: Judith Overcash, Soprano, Elizabeth Wiley Taylor, Soprano,
Steven Rickards, Alto, Randall Umstead, Tenor, Benjamin Smolder, Bass

Pre-concert program by DPO Maestro Neal Gittleman at 3:15 p.m.

Sunday, May 13, 2007, 7:30 p.m. "Best of Brahms"
Liebeslieder Waltzes OP. 52 - Brahms
German Requiem - Brahms "London" version for two piano accompaniment.

This concert features our community outreach project for the year, and a performance of a seldom-heard version of Brahms German Requiem. The project combines the Bach Society chorus with four Dayton area school chamber choirs in a presentation of selections from Brahms lovely (and lively!) Liebeslieder Waltzes. Each chorus will perform individual selections from the Op 52 collection, and all will join forces for a finale. The so-called "London" version of the Requiem may be less familiar - the arrangement for two pianos instead of orchestra was made in Brahms own hand specifically for venues where orchestra was not available. We think you'll love how it sounds in the KSDA venue!

Soloists: Dawn Stone, Soprano, Thomas Sherwood, Bass
Accompanying the Bach Society on both the Brahms Requiem and the Liebeslieder Waltzes will be the noted Dayton duo of Bob and Tiraje Ruckman.

Pre-concert program by Nolan Long at 6:45 p.m.
This concert is supported by a grant from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.

Past Concerts: 2005 - 2006

Bach, Busarow, and Brass
Sunday, October 23, 2005, 4 p.m.
(Concert Preview by Dr. Donald Busarow 3:15-3:45 pm)

The Bach Society of Dayton begins our fourth season with a world premiere! We will perform our first commissioned work, a piece for chorus, percussion and brass by noted Dayton area composer and organist, Dr. Donald Busarow, featuring Dayton’s own Carillon Brass. Rounding out the program will be, of course, a Bach Motet.

This concert is made possible in part by grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.

Sweet Sounds of the Holidays
Sunday, December 4, 2005, 7:30 p.m.

This traditional offering remains one of our most popular concerts. The Bach Society of Dayton will once again be joined by the Kettering Children’s Choir and the Kettering Advent Ringers to present a combination of both lesser known and familiar works. We promise there will be something for everyone to help get you into the Holiday spirit!

Celebrating Bach and Mozart
Sunday, March 5, 2006, 4:00 p.m.
(Concert Preview by Dr. Richard Benedum 3:15-3:45)

In 1735/6, while he was in Leipzig, Bach wrote four short Masses which have come to be known as the “Lutheran Masses,” so-called because they had only a Kyrie and a Gloria, the only two Latin liturgical movements used in the Lutheran liturgy. The Bach Society is proud to present the Dayton premier of one of these little-known, but wonderful works, the Mass in A Major.

Mozart died never having heard his Requiem, and the debate still goes on over which parts were Mozart’s and which were his pupil Sussmayer’s. Come hear this glorious music in it’s entirety to help us celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, and judge for yourself!

This concert is made possible in part by a grant from the Dayton Bach Society Trust Fund of the Dayton Foundation, and the generosity of the Marianist of the University of Dayton.

Vespers and Fables
Sunday, May 7, 2006, 7:30 p.m.
(Concert Preview by Father Joseph Goetz 6:45-7:15)

The Bach Society of Dayton winds up our 2005-2006 season with a particularly upbeat program, ending with a touch of whimsy. This program starts with Mozart’s Dominican Solemn Vespers, but don’t let the title fool you – this is lively, exuberant music with some stunning soprano arias. For the finale, we’ll send you on your way with a smile on your face with a performance of John Rutter’s musical setting of the familiar fable, “The Wind in the Willows.”

Past Concerts: 2004 - 2005

“Byrd, Gibbons, and More” featured music from the English Renaissance including pieces by Byrd, Gibbons, and others with accompaniment by the period instrument viols of the Catacoustic Consort. Renowned countertenor Steven Rickards added authenticity to the early music program.

“Sweet Sounds of the Holidays” brought together the traditional partnership of the Kettering Children’s Choir, added the Kettering Advent Ringers, and featured noted Dayton guitarist for a program of delightful music celebrating the Holiday Season.

“St. John Passion” is one of the greatest of Johann Sebastian Bach’s choral masterpieces, vividly portraying the story of Christ’s last days in a powerful interplay among the chorus, orchestra, and soloists. Our outstanding soloists included: John Wesley Wright, Tenor (Evangelist); Elizabeth Wiley Taylor, Soprano; Mary Henderson Stucky, Alto; Bradley Howard, Tenor; and Thomas Sherwood, Bass.

“A Celebration of Spring” was themed in celebration of Mother’s Day, with largely secular fare from Haydn, Pinkham, and Bach. Soloists joining the Bach Society were Andrea Chenowith, Soprano, Jason Jackson, Tenor, and Brian Johnson, Bass.

2003 - 2004

“On Wings of Song” was our first “themed” concert as we joined in Dayton’s Inventing Flight celebration. The concert featured both choral and instrumental music with themes of flight, and brought guest artist Peter Chiaschini back to Dayton to play Vaughan Williams “Lark Ascending.”

“Sweet Sounds of the Holiday” was our traditional partnership with the Kettering Children’s Choir in a Yuletide celebration.

“Sing, My Soul” brought together four outstanding vocal soloists for a program with orchestra celebrating the spirituality of Bach and the tradition of African-American spirituals. The performance included Bach’s Cantata 78, “Jesu der du meine Seele” and five spirituals from Tippett’s “A Child of our Time” with Eleanor McClellan, Soprano; Mary Henderson Stucky, Alto; John Wesley Wright, Tenor; and William Henry Caldwell, Baritone, as soloists.

“Mainly Mozart” finished our second season in grand style with a performance of Handel’s Organ Concerto in F Major, with Ritter Werner as soloist, and the Mozart grand “Mass in C Minor” with soloists Elizabeth Wiley, Soprano; Adele Karam, Soprano; Timothy Culver, Tenor; and Brian Johnson, Bass.

2002 - 2003

“Sweet Sounds of the Holidays” kicked off the Bach Society of Dayton’s inaugural season, and renewed our partnership with the Kettering Children’s Choir with seasonal music spanning four centuries.

“Cantata 4, Mozart, and More” was our first concert with significant repertory, and included performances of Bach’s Cantata 4 “Christ lag in Todesbanden,” his Motet I “Singet dem Herrn,” as well as two Mozart Sonatas and pieces by Durufle’, Hassler and others.

“Bach Plus Four” ended our inaugural season with a varied program featuring two of Bach’s most glorious Motets, “Komm, Jesu, Komm,” and “Lobet den Herrn.”

Directions: How to get to the Seventh-day Adventist Church:

From Interstate 75 Southbound

Exit I-75 at Springboro Road. Turn left and follow Springboro Road to Dorothy Land. Turn left and follow Dorothy Lane to Southern Blvd. Turn right on Southern Blvd. The Seventh-day Adventist Church parking lot is on your left opposite the Kettering College of Medical Arts.

From Interstate 75 Northbound

Exit I-75 at Dixie Drive. Follow Dixie Drive to Stroop Road. Turn right and follow Stroop Road to Southern Blvd. Turn left on Southern Blvd. The Seventh-day Adventist Church parking lot is on the right.