Performances
The Bach Institute at Valparaiso University was established to ensure the legacy of the music and theological perspective of Johann Sebastian Bach for future generations.
2025/2026 season
Performances
The Box Office
To purchase tickets, call 219.464.5162 or visit the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts administrative suite. Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and one hour before each ticketed performance.
The GRAMMY® Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for its wide-ranging repertoire and dazzling virtuosity. Founded in San Francisco in 1978 by singer and musicologist Louis Botto, Chanticleer quickly took its place as one of the most prolific recording and touring ensembles in the world, selling over one million recordings and performing thousands of live concerts to audiences around the world.
Chanticleer’s repertoire is rooted in the renaissance, and has continued to expand to include a wide range of classical, gospel, jazz, popular music, and a deep commitment to the commissioning of new compositions and arrangements. The ensemble has committed much of its vast recording catalogue to these commissions, garnering GRAMMY® Awards for its recording of Sir John Tavener’s “Lamentations & Praises”, and the ambitious collection of commissioned works entitled “Colors of Love”. Chanticleer is the recipient of the Dale Warland/Chorus America Commissioning Award and the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming, and its Music Director Emeritus Joseph H. Jennings received the Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award for his contribution to the African-American choral tradition during his tenure with Chanticleer.
Named for the “clear-singing” rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Chanticleer continues to maintain ambitious programming in its hometown of San Francisco, including a large education and outreach program, and an annual concert series that includes its legendary holiday tradition “A Chanticleer Christmas”.
Join us Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 PM.
Valparaiso University Chorale and Bach Choir
Saturday, April 25 at 3:00 p.m.
Chapel of the Resurrection
The Valparaiso University Chorale, Bach Choir, and professional orchestra present Mozart’s Vespers, KV 339; Bach cantata, BWV 196, “Der Herr denket an uns”, and “Laetatus sum” by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-1678).
Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m.
More information will be available so check back soon.
Performing the Major Works
One of the goals of the Bach Institute is to perform the major works of Johann Sebastian Bach on a triennial basis. These events bring to campus some of the world’s pre-eminent Bach experts as performers and conductors.
Past Triennial Performances
- 2004: Inaugural Performance: “Mass in B minor” (Helmuth Rilling, Guest Conductor)
- 2007: Triennial Performance: “St. John Passion” (Craig Jessop, Guest Conductor)
- 2010: Triennial Performance: “St. Matthew Passion” (Hermann Max, Guest Conductor)
- 2013: Triennial Performance: “Mass in B minor” (Christopher M. Cock, conductor)
- 2016: Triennial Performance: “St. John Passion” (Christopher M. Cock, conductor)
- 2019: Triennial Performance: “St. Matthew Passion” (Christopher M. Cock, conductor)
- 2022: Triennial Performance: “Mass in B Minor” (Christopher M. Cock, conductor)
- 2025: Triennial Performance: “St. John Passion” (Marin Jacobson, conductor)
The Bach Institute has hosted performances by guest ensembles such as the Bach Collegium Japan, the Dresden Kreuzchor and the Thomanerchor (Leipzig).
Additional Works Performed
- Christmas Oratorio
- Messiah (G. F. Handel)
- Magnificat
- Gloria (A. Vivaldi)
- Brandenburg Concertos
Cantata Performances
The Bach Institute held the Midwest Premiere for BMV 1127, the aria Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn (Everything with God and nothing without him). Additional performances include: BWV 150, 131, 15, 71, 61, 63, 12, 22, 23, 75, 76, 182.