Bach Akademie Australia (Orchestra & Choir)

Founded: 2016 - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Orchestra

Bach Akademie Australia (= BAA) is dedicated to performing the works of J.S. Bach. It was established in late 2016 by Australian violinist Madeleine Easton who has recently returned after 19 years of living and working in Europe. The ensemble’s focus on mastery of performance, authenticity and originality of interpretation brings the music of J.S. Bach to life. Bach Akademie Australia is also focused on forging close links with academic institutions around the country in order to establish educational and learning opportunities for young musicians.

Having been inspired by the world’s leading Bach exponents, Bach Akademie Australia aims to give audiences the very best experience of J.S. Bach’s music. Bach Akademie Australia gave its first public performance in April 2017, which sold out in Sydney, and later that year at the Canberra International Music Festival. These concerts were met with glowing reviews in Limelight Magazine and Canberra City News. The orchestra also made its debut recording for ABC Classic FM of J.S. Bach’s Cantata BWV 4 Christ lag in Todes Banden and Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, both of which have been broadcast nationwide.

2018 saw Bach Akedemie Australia consolidate its growing reputation as one of Australia’s outstanding period instrument ensembles by further sold out performances in Sydney and Canberra to critical acclaim.

2019 has seen Bach Akademie Australia further cement its place as a major force on the Australian music scene with performances in central Sydney, Parramatta and again at the Canberra International Music Festival to glowing reviews. This year saw the formation of the Bach Akademie Australia Choir which performed to great acclaim with the orchestra in their ‘Ascension’ program in March. Bach Akademie Australia aims to perform all of J.S. Bach’s music showcasing the incredible inventiveness, profundity and joy of his music.

The Choir

The BAA choir is made up of consort and solo voices, all of whom have had extensive experience in choral performance traditions, and many of whom have trained at the two great centres of Oxford and Cambridge. The choir made its debut in March 2019 with the performance of two cantatas (BWV 12 and BWV 20) alongside the ‘Ascension’ Oratorio (BWV 11).

Members of Bach Akademie Australia Choir (2019-2023):

Sopranos

Altos

Tenors

Basses

Anna Fraser
Susannah Lawergren
Brianna Louwen
Amy Moore
Anna Sandstrom

Tobias Cole
Stephanie Dillon
Jenny Duck-Chong
Hannah Fraser
Lanneke Jones
Rebecca O'Hanlon
Maartje Sevenster

Richard Black
Richard Butler
Andrei Laptev
Eric Peterson
Timothy Reynolds
Koen van Stade
Daniel Walker

Benjamin Caukwell
Andrew Fysh
Andrew O'Connor
Koen van Stade

Sources:
Programme notes to the concert "Celebrating Twenty Years - City Recital Hall" (2019)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2021, January 2023, May 2024)

Madeleine Easton: Short Biography | Ensembles: Bach Akademie Australia
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works

Links to other Sites

Bach Akademie Australia: The Orchesta and The Choir