Integrating Mission-Based Educational Outreach Programs

Among The Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s educational outreach programs are Bach to School, which has now been presented to more than 90,000 students in elementary, middle, and high school; Bach at Noon, a series of seven free, noon-time concerts attended annually by more than 6,500 people of all ages; the Choral Scholars Program for gifted high school seniors; a Bach Vocal Competition for young American singers, co-sponsored by The Bach Choir and The American Bach Society; a highly successful, multiple-disciplinary Family Concert that has involved several dance companies, visual artists, theatre ensembles; and a Young Composers Competition. This presentation will describe how these programs were created and have been sustained, the collaborative efforts involved in making them successful, and how all of these offerings have grown organically out of the core mission of The Choir. Multiple handouts will be available to encourage participants to look at different ways they might integrate mission-based educational outreach programs in their own organizations.