Every year, the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Florida puts on a performance which fills the beautiful Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College with the sounds of the holiday season. A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS WITH THE BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY features the 175-voice Bach Festival choir, youth choir and orchestra under the direction of conductor and creative director Dr. John V. Sinclair. The esteemed ensembles offer traditional holiday selections from their rich and widely varied repertoire, including well-known Christmas hymns and carols beautifully arranged for the performers. The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park is Central Florida's oldest operating performing arts organization, and has the distinction of being the third-oldest continuously operating Bach Festival in the U.S. The 83-year old Bach Festival choir is composed of volunteers who audition to sing its extensive concert repertoire, including Bach's Passions and Mass in B Minor, and major works by Verdi, Mozart, Brahms, Rossini, and Puccini, along with lesser known and contemporary composers. The choir is accompanied by the Bach Festival orchestra, which is comprised of extraordinary musicians with vigorous, nimble playing and a wide range of talents.
