The 2024 Junior Bach Festival Concert Schedule and Important Details

1.  Friday, March 15, 7:30 pm at Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Berkeley. The sound check will take place from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in this beautiful, ample venue that has been outfitted with a special sound system. Crowden Music Center is conveniently located close to North Berkeley BART station. Street parking is available.  A room has been reserved for instrument storage and brief warm-ups. 

2.  Saturday, March 16, 12:30 pm at The Berkeley Piano Club, 2724 Haste St, Berkeley, CA 94704. The sound check will take place from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm in this historic, intimate venue with two fabulous pianos. Metered street parking and public parking are available in the vicinity. There is no designated space for a warm-up. Instrument cases should be kept out of the aisles. 

3.  Saturday, March 16, 4:00 pm at The Berkeley Piano Club, 2724 Haste St, Berkeley, CA 94704. The sound check will take place from 2:45 to 3:30pm in this historic, intimate venue with two fabulous pianos. Metered street parking and public parking are available in the vicinity. There is no designated space for a warm-up. Instrument cases should be kept out of the aisles. 

4. Saturday, March 16, 8:00 pm at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 2005 Berryman St, Berkeley. We hope parent volunteers will assist with furniture and piano moving at 7:00 pm (after Mass has concluded and parishioners have left). The sound check will be from 7:15 to 7:45 in this large, acoustically vibrant sanctuary with a wonderful concert grand piano. There is no designated space for a warm-up. 

5. Sunday, March 17, 4:00 pm at Old First Presbyterian Church of San Francisco, 1751 Sacramento St, San Francisco. The sound check will take place from 2:30 pm to 3:30 p in the sanctuary. The Junior Bach Festival is featured in annually in the well-established “Old First Concerts” series. A space adjoining the sanctuary has been designated for instrument storage. There is no designated room for a warm-up. 

6. Sunday, March 17, 7:30 pm at Saint Mark’s St Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell St, San Francisco. The sound check will take place from 6:15 to 7:15 pm in this acoustically and visually gorgeous venue with a magnificent, Baroque style organ and a fine concert grand piano. There is no designated space for a warm-up. Instrument cases should please be kept out of the aisles. 

7. Friday, March 22, 7:30 pm at Congregational Church of San Mateo, 225 Tilton Ave, San Mateo. The sound check will take place from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A warm-up space is available.

8. Saturday, March 23, 2:00 pm at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 2650 Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park. The sound check will be from 12:30pm to 1:30 pm. A warm-up space is available.  

9. Saturday, March 23, 7:30 pm at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 2650 Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park. The sound check will be from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A warm-up space is available.  

10. Sunday, March 24, 2:00 pm at Christ Episcopal Church of Portola Valley, 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley. The sound check will be from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. A warm-up space is available.  

11. Sunday, March 24, 7:30 pm at Christ Episcopal Church of Portola Valley, 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley. The sound check will be from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A warm-up space is available.  

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Additional Auxiliary Performance Opportunities:

–Bach in the Subways Permitted Performances, beginning 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 21 (Bach’s birthday!) at the Downtown Berkeley Bart Station. Bach in the Subways is an international event that celebrates Bach’s music. Junior Bach has participated every year since 2015. BART will approve Junior Bach performers at BART Stations other than Downtown Berkeley 4pm-7pm on weekdays, and 9am-7pm on weekends, March 21 to March 31. Participants be supervised by a designated adult. Junior Bach will provide an electric keyboard for pianists and harpsichordists at the Downtown Berkeley Station on March 21 only. 

To perform in this live, international event, soloists and ensembles must pre-register with Junior Bach no later than 5:00 pm PT on Friday, March 8. Please use this link to preregister:  [insert link to a Bach in the Subways spreadsheet]

Here is a link to BART’s promotional piece from last year, when they organized a journalist and videographer to cover the event:  “Beyond a Transcendental Experience” https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2023/news20230324 

–Sunday, April 14, 2:00 pm, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 2005 Berryman St, Berkeley: a special Honors Concert in partnership with Music Sources and featuring Junior Bach performers on baroque style instruments as well as vocalists. The event will be ticketed by Music Sources, and a ticket must be bought. 

–Stay posted for news about Junior Bach’s Annual, Free Workshop!