A rite of spring in the Chicagoland area, Bach Week Festival was founded in 1974 by Karel Paukert, then associate professor of Organ and Church Music at Northwestern University and Organist/Choirmaster at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
Mr. Paukert combined St. Luke's renowned choirs with professional instrumentalists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra and Northwestern with a mission in mind: To showcase the music of Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
The festival, now entering its 47th season, has continued since its inception without interruption, the first year directed by Mr. Paukert, and successive years by Richard Webster, Bach Week's current music director.
