What is BACH?

Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois ("BACH"), was founded in 1996 for the purpose of teaching, learning, and performing music of the Baroque era. Chester L. Alwes, professor of choral music at the University of Illinois and director of music at Grace Lutheran Church, Champaign, is its musical director.

BACH specializes in vibrant, historically-informed performances of music from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is the only professional ensemble in Illinois outside Chicago solely dedicated to live performances of works by Bach, Handel, Purcell, Monteverdi, Corelli, Vivaldi, Schütz, Rameau, Couperin, and other Baroque composers.

A not-for-profit organization, BACH was named "Chamber Ensemble of the Year 2000" by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. It receives support from the Illinois Arts Council, as well as many generous local donors — individual and corporate.

"Hence it was a special treat to see the labors of love expended upon (J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, 1998) by Chester Alwes and the impressive array of vocal and instrumental talent which goes under the name of BACH ... delivered with magnificently buoyant energy ... (and) remarkable skill."

"All the elements of this performance (of Handel’s Messiah, 1999) added significantly to the wonderful overall effect. The young members ... of the choir sang with superb discipline.... It is easy to become jaundiced by performances of this most popular of classical compositions, but there are always new insights to be gained from this marvelous work, especially in a performance as fresh and lively as that Sunday." — John Frayne, News-Gazette