Bach in Baltimore

About this Organization

Since its founding in 1988, Bach in Baltimore has been committed to serving the Greater Baltimore Community with its growing variety of series, programs, and impact. Beginning as an small, intermittent series of Baroque concerts, Bach in Baltimore has now grown into a thriving organization with an array of significant programs, a wide network of musicians - from Baltimore, D.C., New York, and beyond - and a growing number of loyal and new patrons each season. Over 100 vocalists and musicians call Bach in Baltimore their artistic home! Under the direction of Maestro T. Herbert Dimmock, our own Bach in Baltimore Choir now harmonizes more than 50 heavenly voices and our Bach in Baltimore Orchestra is 30 members strong. In addition, Bach in Baltimore features over 20 renowned guest musicians and vocalists in rotation at nearly every concert. T. Herbert Dimmock is considered one of the foremost Baroque experts in the country, and his conducting credits include nearly all the oratorios and anthems of Handel, all the major Bach works, and 160 Bach Cantatas. He has conducted the music of Bach in the U.S., Germany, Canada, and England, working with many of the world’s most accomplished singers and instrumentalists. Maestro Dimmock is also an accomplished organist, having played recitals at many of the world’s most prestigious sites. In addition to his work as founder and music director of Bach in Baltimore, Dimmock has served as music director of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral in Harrisburg, PA for five years, retiring in the fall of 2018, as well as the choir director at Chizuk Amuno Synagogue in Pikesville, MD. Other past church posts include The Cathedral of the Incarnation (Episcopal) and First English Lutheran Church—both in Baltimore—and The Handel Choir of Baltimore, where he was music director for 25 years and is now honored with the title of Music Director Emeritus. Maestro Dimmock has a BA from Davidson College, a MM from Peabody Institute, and extensive continuing education credits at universities in the U.S. and Germany. He has served as part-time faculty at Johns Hopkins University and the College of Notre Dame. Honors include commendations from the State of Maryland, a “Baltimore’s Best” award, and serving on task forces in the arts for the Governor of Maryland and the Pew Trust in Philadelphia. The backbone of Bach in Baltimore's programming is its First Sunday Series. From October - June, concerts are given on the first Sunday of the month, and are hosted at a myriad of venues across Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Harford County, and Carroll County, to name a few. These concerts feature choral and instrumental repertoire of the Baroque, including cantatas, concerti, oratorios, and major works. The Outreach Series was created early on to serve the needs of local area seniors in retirement communities, who might otherwise be unable to attend live performances in the regular season. Scheduled at the convenience of a growing list of communities, these concerts number 8-10 per season, and range from full orchestra and choir performances to recitals by smaller contingents of chamber musicians and soloists. This series seeks to serve the individual needs and capacities of each community - and are given at no cost to residents. In the fall of 2019, the Beyond Bach Series was introduced. Initially created after long-time requests by patrons, this series features music and composers "beyond" Bach and his Baroque contemporaries, namely from the Classical and Romantic periods such as Mozart and Beethoven.  The Student Voice Exchange Program was created to incorporate young, talented musicians from secondary schools and universities into BIB concerts. A Maryland-based, youth-in-music initiative, it offers monthly opportunities for student musicians to share the stage with the professional and avocational musicians of Bach in Baltimore. Student Voice Exchange participants either rehearse and perform works with the BIB Choir or they present selections from their own repertoire.Participants also get the singular opportunity to work directly with Maestro Dimmock, who visits the student groups at their normal rehearsal sites or classrooms to help them prepare the music planned for their upcoming concert.  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bach in Baltimore launched its first-ever Virtual Series in August 2020. New content is released every Wednesday, including: "Moments with Maestro" - mini-lectures on the works scheduled for the FY21 season given by Maestro Dimmock from his home studio; "Artist Insiders" - online interviews and performances with/by BIB musicians; "Audio Recordings" - previously-recorded content from our most popular concerts; “Virtual Choir” - virtual choral engagement, including: rehearsals, lectures, and the waiving of standard membership fees.This content bridges a significant gap between the Maryland community and quality artistic/educational experiences for people across demographics during this challenging time for the arts. Now in its 33rd season, Bach in Baltimore continues to adapt and grow as it seeks to provide an innovative concert experience, increase accessibility to classical music, and provide educational outreach opportunities for students and seniors.