Our Story
BACH performs exceptional choral music to create culturally vibrant experiences, cultivate musicianship, and foster community.
— BACH Mission Statement
The Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, known as BACH, was founded by Chester L. Alwes in 1996 as a project-based professional ensemble for teaching, learning, and performing music of the Baroque era.
Now a thriving nonprofit community organization, BACH is proud of the diverse range of its repertoire — from its roots in Baroque music to today’s most exciting new works by living composers. Today’s audiences enjoy programs featuring both Baroque masterpieces and leading works from across the entire choral repertory.
It is a true community enterprise, welcoming experienced singers from the community, university, and surrounding areas, as well as the support of committed volunteers. 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.
In 2017, Joseph Baldwin succeeded Chet Alwes as music director. Dr. Sarah Riskind has led BACH since 2021.
Our Logo
BACH’s elegant logo is a simplified version of J.S. Bach’s personal monogram, or seal, designed by the composer himself. The design overlaps his initials, forwards and backwards, then tops them with a crown. Image below from Wikimedia.
Praise for BACH
“The Martines work [“Come le limpide onde”] was a pleasure to hear. The BACH chorus sang eloquently throughout, and the soloists excelled in the various combinations called for by the composer…. After the ninth and last section, in which the chorus excelled in fugal passages, there was strong applause for this fine ensemble, expertly conducted by Riskind.”
— John Frayne, The News-Gazette, June 2026
“The season-ending concert of Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana… had an alluring title, “Coffee Cantata: A Caffeinated Concert,” and it turned out to be a rollicking good time and an enormous success.”
— John Frayne, The News-Gazette, June 2025
"Hence it was a special treat to see the labors of love expended upon [J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio]…and the impressive array of vocal and instrumental talent which goes under the name of BACH … delivered with magnificently buoyant energy … (and) remarkable skill."
— John Frayne, The News-Gazette, 1998
BACH’s Inclusivity Statement
Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana stands with the Black community in recognizing the importance of Black life and condemning all forms of discrimination and hatred. We believe in the power of music to bring all people, with a multitude of diverse demographics, together, and to unite us as we aspire towards a better future.