New England Bach Festival Artistic Director: Benjamin Thorn The New England Bach Festival is a biennial event in Armidale NSW Australia dedicated to the best in baroque music with a focus on that of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Armidale, in the northern tablelands of New South Wales, is a city of 24,000 inhabitants, a university (The University of New England), two cathedrals, the New England Regional Art Museum which houses the renowned Howard Hinton Collection and The Museum of Printing and a lively musical life. It was the third City of the Arts in NSW.

The aim of the New England Bach Festival is to bring the best available Australian and overseas baroque performers to Armidale. Recent festivals have also included improvised concerts that pay tribute to that aspect of Bach’s genius.

The next festival is scheduled for 3-6 May 2012

Previous New England Bach Festivals

2010
Australian Baroque Brass
Louise King
Berthold Wicke
Black and White: Monika Kornel/Diana Weston
Lipman Harp Duo
New England Bach Players

2008
Hans-Georg Wimmer (Baritone)
Sydney Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble (Director Neal Peres da Costa)
The Tall Poppeas (Vocal Ensemble)
David Drury
Australian Baroque Brass (Natural Trumpets and Timpani)
Ephen Stephen (Guitar Duo)
Stringybark

2006
New Holland Baroque (Orchestra)
Sirius Ensemble (Chamber group)
Fiona Campbell (Mezzo soprano)
Danny Yeadon ('Cello)
Neal Peres da Costa (Harpsichord, Organ)
Australian Baroque Brass (Natural Trumpets and Timpani)
Christopher Wrench (Organ)
Ephen Stephen (Guitar Duo)

2004
Australian Brandenburg Ensemble
John O’Donnell (Harpsichord, Organ)
The Song Company (Vocal ensemble)
Tommie Andersson (Lute)
The Connectors Ensemble
Anna McDonald (Baroque Violin)
Salut! Baroque (Chamber Orchestra)

2003
Chacona (Ensemble)
Rosalind Halton (Harpsichord)
Rosasolis
Terry Norman (Harpsichord, Organ)
Fiori Musicali (Chamber Choir)
Sergio de Pieri (Organ)
Margaret Caley (Baroque Violin)
Badinerie Players (Ensemble)