Join us for Before Bach's Birthday Bash on Saturday, March 15, with Pipedreams host Michael Barone. This year's celebration includes five free, hourlong concerts at venues in St. Paul, as well as a live broadcast of the first concert at 9 a.m. Central that you can listen to on YourClassical MPR.
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Bach's birthday comes around every year on March 21. The occasion calls for a celebration of this most remarkable of musical talents, and Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Barone (host of Pipedreams) decided that Johann Sebastian Bach deserved something special. A number of years ago, he and colleagues from the Twin Cities chapter of the American Guild of Organists arranged a Bach's Birthday Bash, and the idea blossomed.
When Bach's birthday doesn't fall on a Saturday, such as this year, the celebration is held early and becomes Before Bach's Birthday Bash. The event has become something of a local tradition, with enthusiasts from all parts of the state participating or just listening.
This year's activities feature five free, hourlong public concerts of Bach's music, presented at five venues and churches in St. Paul during the morning and afternoon of Saturday, March 15.
Co-sponsors include the Twin Cities Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and YourClassical MPR.
9 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (700 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul): The first concert will be aired live at 9 a.m. central by YourClassical MPR. You can hear it on KSJN 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities and live-streamed using the audio player above. Performers include organists Samuel Backman, Rachael Kresha and Timothy Strand; pianists Michael D. Min and Joel Bolen; violinists Brenda and David Mickens; violist Jonathan Kresha; and cellist Charles Asch.
Other concerts will follow in St. Paul:
10:30-11:30 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church (1900 Stanford Ave., St. Paul): Performers include organists Evelyn Rohrbach, Joel Anderson and Samuel Libra; and pianist Jeana Ogren.
1-2 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish (Summit Avenue at Lexington Avenue, St. Paul): Performers include organists Brenda Sevcik, Emily Roth, Wolfgang Rübsam and Samuel Libra; and cellist Jacques Gregoire.
2:30-3:30 p.m. at St. Clement Episcopal Church (901 Portland Avenue, St. Paul): Performers include organists Rachael Kresha, trumpetist Steven Siegal, flutist Melanie Sever, cellist Byron Klimek and violist Jonathan Kresha, all representing members and friends of the Arrowhead Chapter of the American Guild of Organists from Duluth-Superior.
4-5 p.m. at House Hope Presbyterian Church (797 Summit Ave., St. Paul): Performers include organists Evan Pechacek, Laura Edman, Mark Overman and Celina Kobetitsch; and cellist Franklin Watkins.
Before Bach's Birthday Bash
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 15.
Where: Churches in St. Paul.
Cost: Free.
More: Pipedreams events page or Twin Cities American Guild of Organists event page; or email Michael Barone.
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