Oregon Bach Festival

The Oregon Bach Festival (OBF) is a distinguished music festival that has been celebrating the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his influence on music for over fifty years. Situated in Eugene, Oregon, and affiliated with the University of Oregon, the festival is renowned for presenting a mix of traditional choral-orchestral masterpieces, renowned guest artists, educational programs, and community events. The festival traces its origins to 1970 when German organist and conductor Helmuth Rilling was invited to the University of Oregon for a series of workshops and an informal concert. This event marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with Royce Saltzman, then Associate Dean of the University of Oregon School of Music. The following year, the Summer Festival of Music was launched, featuring four concerts including a complete performance of Bach's "St. John Passion." Over the next few years, the festival expanded its offerings to include major choral-orchestral works, instrumental and chamber concerts, solo recitals, workshops, and master classes. By the end of the decade, the event was officially named the Oregon Bach Festival, establishing a clear connection to both the region and the composer at the heart of the festival. Originally hosted at the University of Oregon's Beall Concert Hall, the festival moved to the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in 1982, which allowed for further expansion and the ability to attract internationally acclaimed artists. Over the years, OBF has featured performances by notable musicians such as Arleen Auger, Sylvia McNair, Frederica von Stade, Ben Heppner, Thomas Quasthoff, Jeffrey Kahane, Robert Levin, Ya-Fei Chuang, Nicholas McGegan, Sarah Chang, Midori, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, The 5 Browns, Pink Martini, and Savion Glover. The festival's chorus and orchestra are comprised of professional musicians from the United States, Canada, and Europe who return annually to perform. In 2001, the Oregon Bach Festival received a Grammy award for Best Choral Performance for the world première recording of Krzysztof Penderecki's "Credo." The festival has also been committed to new commissions and world premières, such as Sven-David Sandström's "Messiah" in 2009, demonstrating its dedication to both historical and contemporary works. Education has been a core component of the festival, with programs like the Master Class in Conducting, which has served over 1,200 conductors from around the world. The Discovery Series, initiated by Rilling in Eugene, became a model for similar programs internationally. The Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy offers an intensive training and performance experience for high school singers, while the Berwick Academy for Historically Informed Performance and the Organ Institute provide specialized training for graduate students and young professionals. The festival's concerts have been broadcast globally, receiving acclaim from international media. It has been described as virtually without equal in America and recognized as one of the world's leading music festivals. Support for the festival has come from a variety of sources, including public and private organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, and numerous individual donors. In 2011, British conductor Matthew Halls was appointed as the festival's second artistic director, succeeding Rilling. Halls' tenure was marked by significant artistic contributions, including the reconstruction of Bach's "St. Mark Passion" and the establishment of the Berwick Academy. The Oregon Bach Festival continues to honor its past while looking forward to a promising future, with a commitment to celebrating the masterworks of Bach and his enduring legacy. The festival's success and longevity are a testament to the passion and support of its community, volunteers, musicians, patrons, and donors.