EXETER — The organizing committee for the July 2011 Bach Music Festival of South Huron is getting ready to start promoting the event in a big way starting this Sunday with a formal announcement and performances at Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church in Exeter.
As previously reported, a weeklong festival featuring the music of Bach and others is being planned for July 11-17, 2011. To build up to the event, which will attract international attention, the organizing committee is planning a concert series throughout the year.
Executive producer of the event Louise Fagan told the Times-Advocate recently this Sunday's event at the church will give committee members the chance to introduce the concept of the 2011 festival. Committee chairperson Friedhelm Hoffmann added the event will also celebrate Bach's 325th birthday and there will be a birthday cake to mark the occasion.
Sunday's event runs from 2-4 p.m. at Trivitt, with a brief formal program at 2:30 p.m. Guest performers include Trivitt music director and organist Janet Heerema and cellist Christine Newland, who will perform Bach's “First Suite in C Major.” Newland is the principal cellist with Orchestra London.
Artistic director of the Bach Music Festival of South Huron is Gerald Fagan of the Gerald Fagan Singers, Fanshawe Chorus London and The Concert Players Orchestra. Gerald has performed all over the world and has been honoured by Choirs Ontario, the City of London and Conservatory Canada for his service to Culture. He also received the President of Lithuania's Award on behalf of the Fagan Singers as the first performing ensemble to tour that country after Lithuania's declaration of independence.
He told the T-A the Bach festival in July 2011 will mainly consist of choir music and singing, and instrumental music. There will be a focus on children's and youth choirs and Gerald said the festival hopes to include a performance of Bach's “St. John Passion” with a mass choir and soloists.
On the instrumental music side, Gerald said the committee is in negotiations with “significant” Canadian and internationally known performers.
The Bach Festival will include recitals, major performances and possibly master classes in different venues throughout South Huron, including Trivitt and the South Huron Rec Centre.
Louise said the committee hopes at this Sunday's launch to announce names of some of the performers at the 2011 festival. She said the reaction to the festival has so far been “overwhelmingly positive.”
The idea for the festival started with Hoffman and Gerald, Louise's father, talking about ways to build the community. Hoffman, also a member of the Gerald Fagan Singers, said while the festival has been supported by the church, the committee acts as a separate organization.
Louise, who first worked with Huron County performers while producing the “Noted!” CD consisting of Huron women, said she fell in love with the area and the people and said this community is keen and committed to supporting the Bach Festival.
“There's a chance to really do something special,” she said, adding the committee hopes to hold the Bach Festival every two years, with year-round concert series.
She said the festival will attract tourists and make South Huron a destination for concertgoers.
Hoffmann added the committee wants the festival to have an international flavour and include other composers and types of music.
The committee is seeking grants and sponsorships for the festival and is looking for volunteers.
This Sunday's launch is open to the community and is free. A website for the festival will also be launched.
In addition to Hoffmann and Louise and Gerald Fagan, the Bach Festival committee includes members Cathy Seip, Roy Triebner, Paul Ciufo, Heather Moffatt, Doug Ellison, Janet Heerema, Ellen Shapiro and Rebecca Swick with administrative support.