OFFICERS Dr. John W. Schott, M.D., President Mr. Richard O. Baldwin, Jr., Vice President Mr. Michael J. Kakos, Treasurer Mrs. Beverly J. Slaughter, Secretary TRUSTEES Ms. Katherine Byrne Dr. Jefferson S. Flowers Dr. B. Grant Hayes Mr. Ed Kania The Hon. Cynthia Mackinnon Dr. William Oelfke Ms. Jeanne Reynaud Mr. Victor Alexander Tiedtke TRUSTEES EMERITI The late M. Elizabeth Brothers J. Michael Murphy The late Rev. Eric Ravndal, III
STAFF Dr. John V. Sinclair, Artistic Director and Conductor Kathy Johnson Berlinsky, Executive Director Rhonda Burnham, Artistic Manager Sondra Jones, Education Manager Kelly Raia, Marketing Manager Savanna Huls, Operations Manager Steven Branstetter, Business Manager Luke Noles, Administrative Coordinator Regunia Griggs, Choir Liaison Lynn Peghiny, Bach Choir Accompanist Rebecca Hammac, Youth Choir Director Vivian Cook, Young at Heart Choral Director Sofia Cardi Bonfil, Youth Choir and Young at Heart Choral Accompanist
Major Support Provided By
Our 91st Season is supported by many generous individual donors as well as Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs program; United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts; Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation; Dr. Phillips Charities; Elinor & T.W. Miller Foundation; Pabst Steinmetz Foundation; Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation; AdventHealth, Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation; Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture; The Joe & Sarah Galloway Foundation; and Rollins College.
Bach Festival Society of Winter Park
A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS
Tidings of Joy
Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra John V. Sinclair, Artistic Director and Conductor Rebecca Hammac, Youth Choir Director Anna Eschbach, soprano | Samuel McKelton, tenor Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14, 2025 | 1:00pm & 3:30pm | Knowles Memorial Chapel Set I Joy to the World O Come, O Come Emmanual It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Coventry Carol
PROGRAM arr. Mack Wilberg arr. Jamey Ray, orch. Thomas Todia arr. Maclane Schirard arr. Ray
Set II Rise Up Shepherd and Follow
arr. Nathaniel Dett/John Sinclair & Todia Anna Eschbach, soprano The Carol of the Brown King Langston Hughes, Poet Sweet Little Jesus Boy Samuel McKelton, recitor and tenor arr. Schirard Some Children See Him arr. Schirard Silent Night arr. Daniel Flick and Tripp Carter Maya Clausen, soprano; Andrew Campbell, tenor
Set III O Christmas Tree God Rest You Merry Gentlemen Still, Still, Still Bach Festival Youth Choir Around the World with “Old St. Nick” Set IV Away in a Manger Angels We Have Heard on High What Child is This? I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Set V It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year The Christmas Song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Feliz Navidad
arr. Fletcher Wilson arr. Carter Ted Ricketts
arr. Schirard arr. Derric Johnson arr. Michael Andrew Creighton arr. Ture Larsen, orch. Carter & Wilson Pola & Wyle / arr. Chuck Archard arr. Ray Martin & Blane / arr. Christopher Weiss arr. Schirard
FEATURED ARTISTS JOHN SINCLAIR, BACH FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR John V. Sinclair has established a national reputation as one of the leading conductors of choral masterworks. In his 36th season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Bach Festival Society, he has broadened the society’s musical offerings of masterworks by both classical and contemporary composers into the repertoire of the Society while perpetuating his reputation as a scholarly interpreter Photo credit: Mary Kent of J.S. Bach’s music. Dr. Sinclair, known as a master teacher, is Director of Music at Rollins College and as career educator keeps the Society’s educational focus vital. He has appeared as conductor for more than a thousand EPCOT Candlelight performances in addition to his work as a clinician and lecturer. Dr. Sinclair holds a master and doctoral degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and was recently honored as one of the “10 All-Time Influentials,” chosen from 10-years of accumulated Winter Park Magazine honorees.
ANNA ESCHBACH, SOPRANO Ms. Eschbach is highly sought-after as a performer and private voice instructor in Central Florida. Born and raised in Orlando, Ms. Eschbach has performed with numerous companies throughout Florida, including the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Opera Orlando, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, the Villages Philharmonic, Orlando Sings, and the Orlando Philharmonic. She earned her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Appalachian State University and Photo credit: Courtesy of the Artist a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Tennessee. Ms. Eschbach maintains a thriving private voice studio in the Orlando area and serves on the voice faculty at Rollins College. She performs regularly with local professional ensembles such as Bach Vocal Artists of the Bach Festival Society, and the all-female ensemble Helena.
SAMUEL MCKELTON, TENOR Sam McKelton has traveled throughout the world delighting audiences in both the classical and pop worlds. He toured world for three years with superstar Harry Belafonte, and was an original Broadway cast and touring member of the Tony award- winning Disney musical The Lion King. He is a member of the world-renowned American Spiritual Ensemble (ASE), a professional performing arts organization whose mission is to keep the American Negro spiritual alive. He is an Photo credit: Courtesy of the Artist honorary board member of the “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation based in Orlando, Florida. An adjunct professor of voice at NYU Tisch School of Drama, he writes, produces, and develops works for stage and commercial media. He made his Bach Festival Society debut in their tribute performances of R. Nathaniel Dett’s The Ordering of Moses and William Grant Still’s And They Lynched Him on a Tree. 4
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BACH FESTIVAL CHOIR BACH FESTIVAL CHOIR
John V. Sinclair, director | Lynn Peghiny, accompanist Isabel Acuna, 4 Hallie Allen, 2 Katie Anderson, 2 Stewart Anderson, 5 Sue Antonition, 3 Liz Ausburn, 5 Meg Baldwin, 6 Barby Barbara, 7 Will Barbara, 7 Caleb Bartholomew* Samantha Basso, 3 Jim Beck, 14 Lisa Benincasa Heather Bissett, 3 Skylar Black* Robert Blankenship, 1 Rebecca Blankenship-Vargas, 1 Victoria Blankenship-Waziri, 1 Andrew Bostrom, 1 Rossana Buchtik Mabel Burridge Michael Burridge, 26 Gayle Burton, 1 Chantelle Cade, 7 Laurie Calhoun, 7 Andrew Campbell Melanie Campbell, 2 Julia Carpenter, 14 Charlie Carroll, 1 Ellen Huey Cassel, 15 Richard Chambers, 1
Mandi Chapman Kateryna Cherenko, 2 Anne Claiborne, 2 Maya Clausen, 5 Vivian Cook, 7 Michael Creighton, 4 Abigail Cribbs, 1* Carl Davis, 23 Tim Delcavo, 10 Kollin Dembeck* Mirjana Dimitrovska, 6 Frank DiPietro, 5 Irina Dixon, 3 Jacqueline Dixon, 2 Lilliyan Duong, 1* Dante Duphorne, 18 Ashley Duvé, 11 Cynthia Dybas, 10 Tabitha Dybas, 6 Dana Eagles, 15 Patti Eastwood, 2 Jolie Eichler, 18 Marjorie Emmert, 7 Mary Frances Emmons, 4 Jonathan Erick, 30 Amanda Faramelli Raphael Arenas Fernandez, 5 Bob Fields, 7 Denise Flood* Jay Forsythe, 2 Alice Fortunato, 6
Larry Fortunato, 11 Lindsay Fraser Brad Gant, 4 Linda Gibson, 2 Rebekah Gibson-Cribbs, 2 Charlotte Giese, 1 Ginés Ginés, 1 Barbara Gomes Carano, 2 Maribel Gomez, 3 Faith Graves Cheri Grayson, 2 Alison Greene, 6 Minet Gregory, 12 Regunia Griggs, 26 Gregg Gronlund,27 James Guild, 3 Jeanné Hall, 6 Diane Hansen, 12 Grant Hayes, 6 Sarah Hibbs, 1 Richard Horn, 2 Ariel Hudak, 9 Rebecca Hull, 15 Silvia Ibañez, 9 Howard Jaffe, 6 Elisabeth Johar, 3 Heather John, 10 Dakota Johnson* Frederick Jones, 2 Sondra Jones, 15 Joey Jones* BachFestivalFlorida.org
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BACH FESTIVAL CHOIR Beth Kassander, 10 Megan Kenney, *2 Amanda Kinder, 8 Savannah King* James T. Kitchens 4 Lynn Kreps Yen-Yen Kressel, 19 Rob Landry, 6 Caleb Lang, 1 Elizabeth Lang, 1 Brian Lanier, 1 Beecher Larson, 2 Rebekah Lewis, 2 Gary Li, 1 Kathleen LoPresti, 23 Leyse Lowry, 11 Clara Mansilla, 1 Julie Mathews, 3 David Mattson, 19 Carolyn Maue, 4 Elizabeth Maupin, 8 Michael McClory, 2 Justin McGill, 6 Katelyn McInturff* Margaret McMillen, 33 Rita Merlot, 17 Janice Meyer, 10 Susan Miller, 4 Aleitha Morgan, 13 Natalie Morgan, 4 Margaret Munro, 2 Gabriel Narvaez, 1* Mary Nink John Niss, 31 6
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Nelie Noel Luke Noles, 10 Donna O'Connor, 2 William Oelfke, 36 Digna Ojito, 1* Camryn Ovsek Betsy Owens, 13 Liana Pacilli, 13 Luis Padilla, 1 Meredith Parker, 3 Kirsten Paulson, 5 Isabelle Perez, 2* Ashley Peters, 5 Cara Pfost Brown, 3 Martin Phillips, 25 Kurt Plotts, 20 Dan Preslar, 12 Veronica Prevost, 5 Bj Price, 21 Rick Ramsey Beverly Rich, 11 Rhonda Rodriguez Pamela Rosario, 10 Erin Rosel, 2 Sebastian Sanchez, 3* Jane Scamehorn, 11 Chrissy Schreiber Edward Searl, 3 Daniel Sharp, 6 Amanda Shoopman, 6 Taylor Sinclair, 11 Michael T. Sinelli, 1* Diana Sisley, 19 Megan Skena*
Andrew Smith, 2* Joshua Song, 1* Vanessa Spallone, 2 Yvette Stohler, 1 Rebecca Stracener, 1 Herbert Suarez, 1 Alona Svydenko, 2 Nataliia Svydenko, 2 Jodi Tassos, 51 Kemi Taylor Maja Lucic Tepper, 3 Jennifer Thibodeau, 3 Alex Tiedtke, 6 Shoshanna Van Loan Nobel Vega Bahamundi* Jeanine Viau, 9 Cezarina Vintilla, 20 Matthew Walker, 7 Diana Webb, 10 Benjamin Webster, 1* Sarah Webster, 1* Jane White, 44 Patty White, 8 Susan Whritenour, 16 Wave Wildman, 3* Gwendolyn Williams, 20 Richard Wilson, 2 Rowan Wilson, 2* David Wrenn Enrique Ynaty, 1* Emma Youngblood, 1* Angelica Zabbara* Mary Lou Zobel, 9
BACH FESTIVAL YOUTH CHOIR Rebecca Hammac, director | Sofia Bonfil Cardi, accompanist Marybeth Allen Calina Campbell (Erivyn) Elias Campbell Isabella Perez Jingyi Cao (Charles) Calista Chan Grace Colon Madelyn Colon Melanie Corneille Caleb Cribbs
Juniper Czarnik Jayden Dunn Hazel Florman Lydia Gibson Phyllis Guidera Elizabeth Hammac Kyle Harwood Olivia Heim Addilyn Heinrich Carlin Kreps Ava Kurzon
Grace Muldoon Kennedy Paige Alexandra Peet Luci Perez-Alpizar Romy Perez Lauren Pichardo Kalina Race Avni Raghoonandan Eliana Ramirez Mauricio Ribeiro Camila Riera-Gomez
Lee Sage Swathi Sairam Everlie Shea Claire Turk Aria Vargas Lucy Vassalli Eliza Weidenhamer Naomi Weidenhamer Rebecca Ziesig
BACH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA VIOLIN I Routa KroumovitchGomez, concertmaster Alvaro Gomez Shelley Mathews Mary Bos Julia Gessinger Maurius Tabacila Kathleen Beard Olga Ferroni FLUTE Nora Lee Garcia Tina Edelstein
VIOLIN II Joni Roos Rhonda Burnham Victor Ferroni Christina Gant Jennie Rudberg Olivia Skaja Thomas Todia Aysima Anik OBOE Sherwood Hawkin Lora MacPherson
HORN
TRUMPET John Copella Fred Green
Ben Lieser Pam Titus Justin Gittle Alan Davis
PERCUSSION Jeffrey Moore Thad Anderson
VIOLA
CELLO
Susan Gray Daniel Flick Jesus Alfonzo Marla Morgan Linda Kessler
David Bjella Shona Mcfadyen Brenda Higgins Maureen May Amie Tishkoff Jonathan Stillwell
CLARINET Jessica Speak Erik Cole TROMBONE Aaron Lefkowitz Rodney Maingrette Will Nestler HARP Dawn Edwards
STRING BASS Rob Kennon Lee Eubank Michael Hill BASSOON Ashley Heintzen Sasha Enegren TUBA Brandon Sloan
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OUR 2025-2026 SEASON DONORS The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park would like to thank the individuals and community partners below who have generously made a pledge or contribution in support of the dynamic artistic and educational programming and community engagement for the 90th Season. BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY VISIONARIES $100,000 AND ABOVE Bach Festival Choir Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation Orange County Government through the Arts and Cultural Affairs Program State of Florida, Department of State Division of Arts and Culture Rollins College United Arts of Central Florida J. S. BACH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL $50,000 - $99,999 Anonymous Elinor & T.W. Miller Foundation Beth and Jack Nagle Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation CONDUCTOR'S CIRCLE $25,000 - $49,999 AdventHealth The Joe and Sarah Galloway Foundation Mr. Alex and The Hon. Cynthia Mackinnon Pabst-Steinmetz Foundation Sally and Jack Schott Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation COMPOSERS CIRCLE $10,000 - $24,999 Theodore and Barbara Alfond, In honor of John Sinclair Dr. Phillips Charities Florida Charities Foundation Ginsburg Family Foundation Kathryn Grammer Anonymous
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Chelsey G. Magruder Foundation Mrs. Sarah Ravndal, in loving memory of my Husband, The Reverend Eric Ravndall III Wayne and Robin Roberts Bosco R. and Beverly J. Slaughter Leila Edgerton Trismen CHORAL CIRCLE $5,000 - $9,999 The Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation The Thomas P. and Patricia A. O'Donnell Foundation Kathy Johnson Berlinsky Jeff and June Flowers Anonymous (5) Michael and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Bonnie B. And Robert M. Larsen The Norris Family Foundation Dr. MK Reischmann Dr. Joe and Sue Warren ARTISTIC CIRCLE $2,500 - $4,999 Dana and Diana Eagles Barbara and Richard Fulton Dr. Grant Hayes The Lee Foundation David Reynolds Mattson Borron and Beppy Owen Ann Morgan Saurman Tamara L. Trimble Hardy Vaughn and Betty Brady Dr. Tracy Truchelut and Mr. Robert A. White
2025-2026 SEASON DONORS BENEFACTORS $1,000 - $2,499 Keith and Eleanor Ackermann David and Judy Albertson John W. and Linda Cone Allen Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ames In Memory of John M. Tiedtke Ellen Arnold Mrs. Carol Beyer Donna Borko James Burrell Michael and Mable Burridge Tom and Kathy Cardwell Anonymous (4) Tim and Vivian Cook Alan and Susan Davis Geoffrey Del Bene Deprez Fund Lee Eubank Brad and Christina Gant G. Randall and Nancy Gibbs James and Freddi Goodrich Gregg Gronlund Family Mrs. Janice Granier Gruber Wallace H. Hall Paul M. Harmon Adam Hetnarski Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Orlando Allison and Peter Hosbein Dr. Mimi Hull Allen T. Irwin Beth and Jack Isler Bradford M. Johnson Heather Kanny
Kobrin Family Foundation Dr. Susan Cohn Lackman and Dr. Richard David Knapp Anonymous in memory of Clifford and Marilyn Lee Leyse Lowry Jody and Craig Maughan Elizabeth Maupin and Jay Yellen Dr. Margaret McMillen Jeff and Mindy Moore D’Arcy Murphy John Niss and Lisa Mouton Bj Price Dr. F. Robert and Norene Rolle Joan Ruffier Paul Schmalzer Sara and Bill Segal Karyll Shaw Paula Shives Frederick Szudlik Jodi Tassos George R. and Eleanor C. Taylor, In memory of The Rev. Eric Ravndal, III Donna and Keith Van Allen Harold Ward Katy Moss Warner Mrs. Gwendolyn B. and Mr. Wilford J. Williams Betty Jane and Cecil B. Wilson, MD We are so grateful for all of these generous donors as well as an additional 204 donors who gave up to $999, whose support makes everything we do possible. Each gift, no matter the size, strengthens our mission and allows us to inspire the human spirit through great music. Thank you!
WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE DONORS OF THE UNITED ARTS CAMPAIGN. Your continued support uplifts not only Bach but also the entire Central Florida arts community. Together, you help ensure that the arts remain a vibrant, inspiring, and essential part of our shared cultural life. BachFestivalFlorida.org
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Watch on WUCF TV
Tidings of Joy
A Classic Christmas with the Bach Festival Society: December 24•5:00pm | December 25•8:00pm and 10:00pm
Watch anytime at BachFestialFlorida.org/wucf
Save the Date
Americana: Barber, Bernstein, Copland Friday, January 30, 2026 | 7:30pm
91ST ANNUAL BACH FESTIVAL Colin MacKnight, organ (FREE) Friday, February 6, 2026 | 7:30pm National Oratorio Competition Finals Concert Friday, February 13, 2026 | 7:30pm Voces8 Sunday, February 15, 2026 | 7:30pm Concertos by Candlelight: Guilmant, Paganini, Rachmaninoff Friday, February 20, 2026 | 7:30pm | Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 7:30pm Age of Enlightenment: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 3:00pm Fuoco Obbligato Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 3:00pm J.S. Bach: St. John Passion Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 3:00pm Lysander Piano Trio Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 3:00pm Passion Music for Early America with Bach Vocal Artists Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:30pm Duke Ellington: Sacred Service Friday, April 10, 2026 | 7:30pm Silver Screen Classics Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 7:30pm | Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 3:00pm
HEALING POWER of the
The
The performing arts inspire us, connecting hearts, lifting spirits and opening doors to wholeness. Melody, drama and movement have the remarkable ability to energize, ease pain and loneliness, and help audiences and artists feel truly seen and understood — just as music therapy at the bedside can bring healing in body, mind and spirit. That’s why AdventHealth celebrates and invests in the arts as a vital part of living a whole life.
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Visit WellnessAndArts.com to learn more.
BRING
Joy to the World
THROUGH MUSIC On the eve of our 91st Festival, we celebrate a long tradition of providing world-class music to Central Florida and give thanks for the robust support that has made it possible. If you are enjoying today's concert, please help ensure our future by making a generous gift to the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park through the annual United Arts Collaborative Campaign.
T E X T " B AC H " TO 919 - 99 TO D O N AT E TO D AY Every gift made through the Campaign and designated for Bach between now and April 30, 2026 will go directly to us and will enhance our share of a $1.25 million matching gift pool.
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT US AT
407-646-2182 or info@bachfestivalflorida.org.
Thank you for your consideration, and Merry Christmas from all of us at the Bach Festival Society!
S P E C I A L T H A N KS TO O U R C L ASS I C C H R I ST M AS S P O N S O R S Elinor & T.W. Miller Foundation | Dr. Phillips Charities | AdventHealth | Kelly Price