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Listen: Before Bach's Birthday Bash in St. Paul

Before Bach's Birthday Bash - March 15, 2023

Did you miss Before Bach's Birthday Bash on Saturday with Pipedreams host Michael Barone? This year's celebration included five free, hourlong concerts at venues in St. Paul. Listen to the first concert now!

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 was aired live by YourClassical MPR. You can listen to it now using the 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 followed 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.

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