After careful discernment over many months, I have decided to not renew my contract as Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Bach Festival for 2015.
The opportunity to revive the Festival in 2014 at All Saints Church was challenging and fast-paced. In four short months we planned and produced a 3-concert series with chorus, soloists and orchestra. Bringing Bach’s music to life was a great joy and a resounding success.
Even so, a foundational operating structure is still not in place. That void requires responsibilities of the Artistic Director that are larger in scope than what I can take on for the upcoming season.
It is my hope that the Festival’s board will have the opportunity to re-group and explore creative ways to move Los Angeles Bach Festival forward. We can all benefit from more Bach in our lives.
I am so very disappointed to read this disheartening news. It was with great joy that I participated last year…and so hoped that All Saints might become the new venue with James at the “artistic” helm! I can only imagine what a monumental task it is to secure the operating structure necessary; I pray that the Board will be able to find a solution, and the Festival will be able to keep going. Thank you for all of your efforts last year!