Our auditions will be entirely virtual this year. The Junior Bach Festival intends to offer in-person concerts throughout the Bay Area on weekends in mid to late March around the time of JS Bach’s birthday. We are aware of possible restrictions that could be caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As in the past few years, virtual Junior Bach Festival concerts will also be an exciting option for accepted performers. Virtual concerts will be made publicly available on YouTube.

Online registration, once again in an easy-to-use format via Google Forms, will open on September 15, 2024.

January 10, 2025 is the firm deadline for all applicants, including soloists and ensembles of all sizes, to complete the application and submit MP3 audition recordings. (By firm, we mean absolute, and no exceptions.)

This letter is being sent to teachers and families of students to encourage musical preparation for the 2025 Junior Bach Festival! Students will receive written comments and suggestions from 3 judges who are respected teachers and performers of the highest caliber. Typically, a certain percentage of registrants will be invited to perform in a Festival concert.

Audition pieces must have been composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and have been assigned a BWV Number uniquely identifying the piece as one of JS Bach’s compositions. Transcriptions of pieces for different instruments from the original version(s) are permissible if Bach’s composition is not otherwise modified. Arrangements which include modifications to Bach’s compositions are not permitted. If a piece calls for an accompanist, this must be included in the audition recording, and the accompanist must be 20 years of age or younger.

We strongly encourage soloists as well as ensembles to apply. The registration fee is $85 per registration. A discounted rate will apply to students registering on multiple instruments. An ensemble will pay only one $85 application fee for the entire group. Those auditioning as soloists on multiple instruments will submit an additional registration and a $55 to $75 registration fee for each additional instrument. This year we will also be offering a discount of $5 per instrument for those who submit a complete application by December 15th. A complete application includes a final video and written application. Please do not submit a video unless it is your final version, as updated videos will NOT be accepted. Only one version will be accepted, and only one version can be submitted.

No one will be turned away from Junior Bach auditions, performances, or other Festival offerings for lack of funds. For scholarship information, please email manager@juniorbach.org.

See our website,  www.juniorbach.org for additional details about audition requirements, the history of our organization, news about our annual, free, public Workshop, and announcements about additional Junior Bach performance opportunities in 2025.

Musical questions? Please contact manager@juniorbach.org.

For administrative questions, contact manager@juniorbach.org.

For general questions, contact info@juniorbach.org.

We look forward to hearing from you!