Who are we?

EXCELLENCE AND A SHARED CULTURAL HERITAGE

Founded in 2005 by Alexandra Scheibler, the Montreal Bach Festival has established itself as North America’s leading festival celebrating the timeless musical genius of Johann Sebastian Bach and the cultural heritage he inspires.

Every year in November and December, the Montreal Bach Festival offers some 30 different events: paid and free concerts, public rehearsals, lectures, children’s concerts, meetings with international musicians, and much more.

Today, the festival brings together over 20,000 local and international festival-goers at a dozen iconic Montreal venues, including the Maison symphonique, Salle Bourgie at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Saint Joseph’s Oratory on Mont-Royal, and many of the city’s churches, not to mention the unique performances held in Quebec City at the Palais Montcalm.

THE FESTIVAL IN A FEW DATES

2005: Alexandra Scheibler founds the Festival. The very first edition takes place in Montreal, over 6 days.
2009: The festival expands. A permanent organizational team is created.
2013: First Nuit des Chœurs. A selection of choirs from the Greater Montreal area invited to present a few chosen works from their repertoire.
2015: Inauguration of the "Bach Incognito" children's concert with Nicolas Ellis and the Agora orchestra.
2016: The Festival's tenth anniversary. The great American cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs the Bach Suites at the Maison symphonique.
2018: The Bach Festival creates its own Orchestra. Following the example of the biggest international festivals, the festival creates an ensemble bringing together some thirty musicians, mainly students. Its debut takes place with Alexander Read as first violin for an interpretation of the St. John Passion conducted by Julien Prégardien.
2019: Creation of the Off-Bach Festival, with 100% free programming! Alexandra Scheibler receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
2020: The Festival reinvents itself during the Pandemic to safeguard its mission, launching the "Canada Classique" Festival distribution platform.
2023: The Montreal Bach Festival offers one unique concert in Ottawa (ON). and another Quebec City (QC).

Festival in figures

OVER 20,000 FESTIVALGOERS EVERY YEAR
200 ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND CHOIR MEMBERS PRESENT EACH YEAR
TALENT FROM THREE CONTINENTS
OVER 30 DIFFERENT CONCERT VENUES SINCE THE FESTIVAL BEGAN

Our mission

SHOWCASING A MUSICAL GENIUS

The Cello Suites, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Goldberg Variations, the Mass in B minor… These are just some of the masterpieces by one of classical music’s most influential composers, Johann Sebastian Bach. His work transcends cultural boundaries and is, by its very nature, universal and inclusive.

Numerous composers have drawn inspiration from this repertoire and brought its music to life through the ages. Over the years, the Montreal Bach Festival has endeavored to help audiences discover and rediscover Bach’s timeless repertoire by inviting local and international artists to perform these works in. “a state of wonder and serenity” (G. Gould).

DISSEMINATING ART AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Perpetuating the music of J.S. Bach bears witness to an ambition that guides the Festival year after year: to disseminate and highlight his musical heritage while creating new, unique, and personal experiences for both artists and audiences.

The depth and complexity of Bach’s compositions offer inexhaustible possibilities for interpretation. In this context, each performance is an opportunity to showcase the excellence of the artists and to share new interpretations of the music of the famous composer.

FEDERATE A COMMUNITY AND EDUCATE

We’re convinced that, with the right approach, classical music becomes a vehicle for social interaction and sharing.

By offering human experiences in our programming, we reinforce a community spirit and carry out the educational mission advocated by the Montreal Bach Festival.

A number of highlights mark the Festival:

La Nuit des Chœurs gives amateur artists the chance to perform in front of a live
Bach Incognito performances introduce children to classical
Off-Bach offers a series of lectures, meetings with professionals, and free recitals that invite music-lovers and neophytes alike to stray from the beaten classical music track.

EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY

Each edition of the Festival presents the results of explorations and discoveries of artistic excellence. Through concerts, workshops, exchanges with professionals, and meetings with artists, we share the fruits of our mission over the years.

EXCHANGE, ENRICHMENT AND OPEN-MINDEDNESS

The Montreal Bach Festival is committed to making classical music accessible to all generations and communities. That's why, with each edition, we offer events and live experiences specially designed for a neophyte audience. Everyone is welcome at our festival, and this friendly welcome we extend to our audiences and artists contributes to the renown of our events.