Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is pleased to announce the 17th season of Bach at the Sem, featuring presentations of J.S. Bach’s music by The American Kantorei, under the direction of Robert Bergt. The Bach at the Sem sacred concerts are offered on Sunday afternoons in the Seminary’s Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus with the exception of the first concert on Oct. 25 on Saturday afternoon. There is no admission charge and no tickets are issued. A free-will offering is received in support of the series.

The 2008-2009 Bach at the Sem schedule is comprised of the following:

Saturday, Oct. 25, at 3:00 p.m.—The American Kantorei performs Cantata 80, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and Cantata 119, “Oh Jerusalem! Praise the Lord”, by J. S. Bach. Dennis Bergin, Bach at the Sem organist; Max Reger, Organ Fantasy on the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

Sunday, Dec. 14, 3:00 p.m.—The American Kantorei performs Advent and Christmas music: J.S. Bach oratorio, “Magnificat in D Major”; Cantata 140, “Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying”; Hugo Distler’s motet on the same hymn; Heinrich Schutz’ motet, “God So Loved the World.”

Sunday, Feb. 22, 3:00 p.m.—Organist Dennis Bergin in recital. The American Kantorei performs three motets: Jan Bender, “God So Loved the World”; Hugo Distler, “Joseph, Dearest Joseph Mine”; and J. S. Bach, “Praise the Lord, All You Lands.”

Sunday, April 26, 3:00 p.m.—The American Kantorei performs Felix Mendelssohn, “Hymn of Praise”; and August Christian Bergt, “Easter Hymn.” Enlarged Chamber Orchestra with choirs from St. Louis University unite with the Kantorei for these presentations. Guest organist, David Mulbury, performs major works by Mendelssohn and Bach.

The American Kantorei is a choral and orchestral ensemble dedicated to the performance of church music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Neoclassical periods. The works of J.S. Bach form the core of its repertoire. Conductor and music director Robert Bergt is known as a symphonic and chorale conductor with a specialization in the music of Bach and other masters of the Baroque Period. Principal singers in each section are the soloists within the Kantorei—Joy Boland and Jean Baue, Soprano; Katharine Lawton Brown and Sandra Agans, Mezzo Soprano; Jeral Becker and Arie Perry, Tenor; David Berger, bass-baritone. Bach at the Semis funded largely through the generosity of individual supporters.

For more information concerning Bach at the Sem or to be added to the Bach at the Sem mailing list, contact Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; (314) 505-7377; Bach@csl.edu; or visit the Concordia Seminary Web site at www.csl.edu.