Second of two parts

It was a tough call, but Bach Choir of Bethlehem officials have decided to cancel the choir’s live concert performances through the end of March.

Bach Choir of Bethlehem Executive Director Bridget George says it was the “only wise choice.”

Because of the surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Pennsylvania reactivated limitations Dec. 10 on the number of persons allowed at indoor gatherings. Choir members were unable to rehearse.

Canceled is the Greg Funfgeld Family Concert, which was to have been a collaboration with members of the Lehigh University Philharmonic and the dance department of Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts, scheduled Feb. 28, and the choir’s Spring Concert, presented with The Bach Festival Orchestra, scheduled March 21.

The “Bach at Noon” Feb. 9 concert is postponed until Feb. 16 because participants were unable to film the concert because of the Jan. 31-Feb. 2 blizzard that blanketed the Lehigh Valley.

George says choir officials were thrilled by the success of the virtual Christmas concert which reached more than 8,000 people in 48 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and 18 countries.

“It was so enthusiastically received far and wide,” says George.

However, the model for that concert wouldn’t work because of the winter season. The choir recorded the Christmas concert outdoors in October.

The choir has been unable to present its award-winning “Bach to School” program for students this season.

Instead, inspired by the success of the online Christmas concert, the choir is creating an educational film to substitute for the family concert and “Bach to School” for distribution online to schools.

“Bach to School” typically featured 40 members of the Bach Choir and the Bach Festival Orchestra visiting and performing at local schools in a program that has become part of the curriculum for third grade in Bethlehem and Easton and fifth grade in Allentown.

“We wanted to preserve the spirit of that and combine it with something we can share more widely,” George says.

The choir’s annual family concert was attended by home-schooled children and school groups.

The film will draw on archival videos of family concerts, which have included dance, poetry, puppets and youth performers, and newly-filmed segments.

“Our vision is to create it in four sections, which can be taught in sequences over time and also as a whole,” says George.

Creating the film will involve the choir’s Educational Outreach Committee in consultation with George and Bach Choir of Bethlehem Artistic Director and Conductor Greg Funfgeld. The committee includes Joy Hirokawa, Artistic Director of the Bel Canto Youth Chorus of The Bach Choir, and teachers from area school districts and colleges, many of whom are singers in the Bach Choir.

The first part will be an introduction to the life of J.S. Bach, focusing on his boyhood and music education.

The second part will introduce Bach’s choral music and the choral tradition of the Bach Choir in Bethlehem.

The third part will focus on how dance is inspired by Bach’s music.

The fourth part will explore creative ways in which Bach’s music has inspired others.

Funfgeld will record narration that will tie it all together.

“Greg will be the through-line,” George says.

There will be new material by 10 singers and soloist Dashon Burton, who will tape segments at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Allentown.

“Dashon is so wonderful with kids,” George says. “Kids always adore him. They would write him letters after performances and he responded to everyone.”

Burton will sing a portion of a Bach aria and talk with members of Bel Canto Youth Chorus and other children about singing Bach.

The film will be distributed online, with additional information at: www.bach.org/education/

Members of Bel Canto have been meeting regularly online.

“They have a whole virtual curriculum,” George says.

Bel Canto members are studying social justice and learning about the legacy of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in the Brandywine Valley and Lehigh Valley.

The chorus sang “Stand Up” from the 2019 biographical film about Tubman, “Harriet,” for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Plans are uncertain for the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival, which is scheduled for May 14-15 and May 21-22 at venues on the Lehigh University campus, south side Bethlehem and Moravian College venues on the north side of Bethlehem.

“We’re pretty determined to make it work, but I’m not sure what shape it will take,” says George.

The festival could include live performances indoors and outdoors and virtual performances.

George says Bach Choir officials expect to make a decision on the format of the 2021 Bach Festival by the end of February.

“We are really holding on to doing something beautiful for the festival,” George says.

George still plans to retire at the end of June. A search is underway for a new executive director.

Funfgeld’s successor is on hold. Because of COVID protocol, the five finalists have been unable to audition with choir and orchestra.

“We feel it’s so vital. We can’t proceed until we can get the candidates together with the choir and orchestra,” says George.

Funfgeld has agreed to stay on until the process is complete.

An announcement is expected to be made concerning the Bach Choir’s June tour to Bachfest Leipzig, with concerts also in Dresden and Prague, postponed from 2020.

Meanwhile, the choir continues its online “Bach at Noon” performances once a month and its “Moments of Comfort,” the latter via email since April 2020.

“We will bring the choir back together again,” says George.