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Bach Festival of Peoria

MAY 31 – JUNE 5, 2026

The Peoria Bach Festival brings the joy and beauty of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) to Central Illinois by offering concerts and educational opportunities for all ages. Held annually since June 2003, it is a collaborative effort featuring local musicians while at the same time attracting national and international talent. The Peoria Bach Festival also seeks to encourage and mentor a new generation of musicians. Founded and hosted for 20 years by Trinity Lutheran Church. Beginning in 2023 the festival moved here, to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1420 W. Moss Ave., Peoria, Illinois.

Our 2025 festival will tentatively feature:

  • Opening Organ Concert (Sunday, May 31, 4:00 pm)
  • Young Musicians Concert (Monday, June 1, 12:00 pm)
  • Concert of Baroque Chamber Music (Tuesday, June 2, 7:30 pm)
  • Piano Concert ft. John Orfe (Wednesday, June 3, 12 pm)
  • Community Musicians Concert (Thursday, June 4, 12 pm)
  •  Organ Lecture/Demonstration featuring Martin Dicke (Friday, June 5, 12 pm)
  • 2026 Festival Concert featuring choir, orchestra, and soloist. Pre-Concert Lecture at 6:45 pm.

The concert will feature:

    1. Orchestral Suite in G Minor, BWV 1070;
    2. Sinfonia Concertante in C Major, WC 43 by Johann Christoph Bach (edition by Nicholas McGegan);
    3. “Unser Leben ist ein Schatten” (“Our Life is But a Shadow”) by Johann Bach;
    4. Cantata No. 78 “Jesu, der du meine Seele” (“Jesus, By Whom My Soul”);
    5.  “Now Thank We All Our God,” Movement No. 3 from Cantata 79 “Gott der Herr is Sonn und Schild” (“God the Lord is Sun and Shield”).

 

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution for the 2025 festival before the end of this tax year, please visit westminsterpeoria.org (Donation Portal) or send your contribution to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1420 W. Moss Ave., Peoria IL 61606.   If making an online donation, be sure to select “Peoria Bach Festival” as the fund. If contributing by check, be sure to write “Bach Festival” in the memo line.

The Peoria Bach Festival is a collaborative effort featuring musicians from Central Illinois and the surrounding regions. Not only does it showcase Peoria’s own musicians, but it also seeks to encourage and disciple a new generation of musicians while at the same time attracting national and international talent. Your generous contributions help us keep the daytime concerts free and make the price of the main event – the Friday evening Festival Concert – affordable.

We look forward to celebrating another week of the joyful and exuberant music of Bach and thank you in advance for your continued patronage.