Bach Virtuosi Festival

About BVF

BVF

The Bach Virtuosi Festival, founded by violinist Lewis Kaplan, offers residents and visitors of New York City (May 13-21, 2024) and southern Maine a world-class concert series (June 19-25, 2024) for lovers of the baroque repertoire. BVF has been well-received by the public, the press, and the artists themselves from its outset in 2016. The artists are world renowned musicians, musicologists, and professors who play Bach and his contemporaries with brilliance, love and integrity.

St. Luke's Cathedral Portland Maine
Locations

BVF holds concerts in churches, synagogues, and intimate venues with spectacular acoustics, including St. Luke’s Cathedral (Maine), Church of St. Ignatius of Antioch (NYC), and Etz Chaim Synagogue (Maine), so attendees can be close to the musicians and further their appreciation for this exalted music regardless of religious affiliations.

Why we love Portland

Portland, Maine has been the home of Bach Virtuosi Festival since 2016. It was founded in this picturesque city because Lewis Kaplan had guided the Bowdoin International Music Festival from 1964-2014. When he decided to start a Bach festival, the location was an easy decision. We love Portland because of its beautiful architecture, the homeowners who house our musicians, the places to explore, and the fact that Portland is a food & wine city. Come enjoy this festival while savoring the delectable and fun activities this city offers.

Portland Maine downtown

Aeolian Chamber Players

The Bach Virtuosi Festival is presented by Aeolian Chamber Players, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The mission of Aeolian Chamber Players, Inc. is to advance the knowledge of music by presenting and supporting public performances of music and other programs, by commissioning new musical works, and by assisting talented students in their musical studies and early careers. The corporation sponsored music performances and other musical

endeavors by the Aeolian Chamber Players, a chamber music group performing throughout the United States and Europe, including residencies at various colleges and at the Bowdoin International Music Festival. It makes significant grants for each year the Bach Virtuosi Festival is held. The musicians who perform at BVF are the nucleus of the Bach Virtuosi Festival, which will be held for the ninth year in 2024 in Portland, and the first year in NYC.

BVF Management

Brian Kaplan

Brian Kaplan

Director of Marketing and Communications

A specialist for independent schools and arts-based non-profits, Brian brings 25 years of strategic marketing experience to BVF. Previously, he worked in the music industry with artists, such as Lorin Maazel, Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, and record companies, radio stations and in artist management.

    Megan Akers

    Megan Akers

    Administrative Director

    Megan joins BVF from the Maine Council of Churches in Portland, ME. She brings a background in fundraising, event management, communications, and the essential organizational skills required in this fast-paced position. Megan lives in Portland with her husband and two teenage sons.