Sonoma Bach

Sonoma Bach builds a community of music-lovers to share the experience of Medieval, Renaissance, Baro Seraphim.

Sonoma Bach’s mission is to bring together and nurture a community of music-lovers in our beloved Sonoma region to share in the magnificent experience of early music. We know that this music from the distant past—sacred and worldly, vocal and instrumental, solemn and joyful—can speak powerfully to today’s audiences, and we reach out not only to those already familiar with its pleasures and beauties and traditions, but also to those for whom the music is brand-new. Our resident ensembles—including three vocal ensembles and our period-instrument orchestra—prepare and perform an annual series of eight concert sets, featuring the finest repertoire presented in imaginative programs designed to bring to life the magic of the music and to connect compellingly with our audiences. Most of our concerts take place in the Green Music Center’s 240-seat Schroeder Hall, with its live acoustics, intimate audience experience, and wonderful Brombaugh pipe organ. In addition, we offer site-specific concerts designed for special places in Sonoma County, such as our annual concerts in the domed and frescoed Church of St. Sonoma Bach offers a variety of opportunities for learning and exploration for singers, instrumentalists and listeners alike. Our classes, workshops and lectures focus upon four broad areas: Individual skills (such as vocal technique and sight-reading); ensemble skills; knowledge of repertoire; and ‘the big picture’: What does it all mean, and how can I connect? We believe passionately in the power of music to bring people together, to help us work through life’s challenges, and to serve as a catalyst for positive change. When people make music with and for each other—with skill, with style, with love—we believe that our world becomes better. Sonoma Bach is proud to have been serving our community for 25 years through this essential activity of music-making, and we look forward eagerly to continuing our efforts for many years to come.

10/29/2026

Singer Spotlight: Melissa Steen

Melissa joined Sonoma Bach Choir in 2023 as an alto after moving to Sonoma County with her husband, Paul, and discovering our welcoming musical community. In 2025, she also joined the Wild Rose Treble Ensemble.

Music has been a constant throughout Melissa’s life. She grew up singing in her Lutheran church in the Midwest, where her love of music began. She continued singing through high school and college, touring Europe with the Wartburg Choir and visiting Bach’s birthplace, Eisenach, Germany. One of the highlights of her musical journey was performing at Carnegie Hall in New York. Melissa and Paul met while singing in a church choir in Minneapolis and went on to sing together in the Bethlehem Lutheran Chorale for more than 30 years.

These days, Melissa enjoys traveling, cooking, gardening, exploring Sonoma County’s food and w**e scene, and spending time with her adult children. We’re so glad she found her way to Sonoma Bach!

10/21/2026

On Our Bookshelf: The Song of Songs (The World’s First Great Love Poem)

One of the Bible’s most celebrated poetic texts, The Song of Songs is a lyrical meditation on love, longing, and human connection. Rich with vivid imagery and expressive language, this ancient work has inspired poets, artists, musicians, and readers for centuries. Its timeless celebration of love and beauty continues to resonate across cultures and generations.

Our accompanying concert, Harvest Time: A Seal Upon Our Hearts will feature Circa 1600 and Live Oak Baroque Orchestra!

November 14 & 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Bachgrounder lecture 35 minutes before each concert
Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center Join us!

🔗: http://sonomabach.vbotickets.com/event/harvest_time_a_seal_upon_our_hearts/202497

10/07/2026

Community Outreach Spotlight: The Living Room

As part of our Only Connect Season, Sonoma Bach is proud to be partnering with a different local organization for each concert set. For our opening recital we will be partnering with The Living Room, a Sonoma County organization supporting women and children experiencing housing insecurity and urgent need.

The Living Room provides much more than a meal or a place to stay. Through its Life Center, housing programs, food services, and wraparound support, it helps people navigate crisis, find stability, and build a path toward greater independence with dignity, compassion, and without judgment.

If you’re planning on attending our opening recital, please consider making a donation to this worthy organization. Donations needed: sports bras, deodorant, body wash and comfortable shoes.

We will have a donation bin when you walk into one of our concerts.

The Book of Genesis - St Seraphim Church in Santa Rosa
October 17th at 7:30PM
October 18th at 3:00PM

Learn more about The Living Room and the difference they’re making in our community: thelivingroomsc.org

10/05/2026

Sonoma Bach is proud to be shining a light on the work of The Living Room at our Opening Recital.

This season, Sonoma Bach Choir is highlighting connection. Connection through music and connection to the community. Each concert they are spotlighting a local organization meeting the needs of our community every day and for their first concert of the season, they have chosen The Living Room.

Opening Recital: The Book of Genesis
October 17, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
October 18, 2026 at 3 p.m.
St. Seraphim Orthodox Church
tickets available at SonomaBach.org

Arrive early for the Bachgrounder lecture 35 minutes before the concert starts to learn more about the music being presented and hear from a representative from The Living Room.

09/30/2026

Our Opening Concert: The Book of Genesis

We open our new season with the Green Mountain Consort going back—way back!—to Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. This concert features some of our favorite composers and explores the many stories, characters, and lineages found in the Book of Genesis.

A fun feature of the concert is that both halves are bookended by music from William Billings. Billings was a largely self-taught musician who was a leather tanner by trade. He was known for his energetic “fuging tunes”, which is where vocal parts enter one after another in imitation.

We hope you’ll join us for this intimate concert in the beautiful setting of St Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral!

Saturday, October 17th 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 18th 3:00 PM

🔗: sonomabach.org/tickets.html

09/23/2026

On Our Bookshelf: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant 
The Red Tent gives voice to Dinah, a little-known figure from Genesis 34 whose story is only briefly told in the biblical text. In Scripture, Dinah never speaks for herself, and the events surrounding her are narrated through the perspectives of others. This moving retelling imagines Dinah’s own voice, offering a rich portrait of her life and the women who shaped her world.

Our accompanying concert, The Book of Genesis features our Green Mountain Consort at St. Seraphim of Sarov Church in Santa Rosa. Join us!

October 17th 7:30pm
October 18th 3:00pm

🔗: http://sonomabach.vbotickets.com/event/opening_recital_the_book_of_genesis/202494

Content Advisory: Check our website for information

09/16/2026

Virtual Bach Talk: Season Introduction

This Thursday, September 17th at 7PM, begin the season with Directors Robert Worth and Amanda McFadden as they introduce Sonoma Bach’s 2026–27 concert series, Only Connect. Discover the musical themes that connect this year’s programs, learn about the composers and repertoire you’ll encounter, and gain insight into the artistic vision behind the season.

Whether you’re joining us for one concert or the entire series, this conversation offers the perfect introduction to the music and the journey ahead. Zoom link will be posted Thursday on our website homepage

www.sonomabach.org

09/09/2026

Tonight! Open Rehearsal for our 2026–27 Season: Only Connect

Experience Sonoma Bach firsthand by attending an open rehearsal, meeting members of our musical community, and learning more about our ensembles. Individual auditions will be scheduled following the open rehearsal. Throughout our season, singers perform alongside exceptional local musicians, acclaimed vocal soloists, and members of the Live Oak Baroque Orchestra in programs inspired by E.M. Forster’s call to Only Connect. We’d love to sing with you!

Open Rehearsal Date: Wednesday, September 9, 7:00-9:30 P.M.
Location: Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center, 180l East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park
Auditions will take place Saturday, September 12 by appointment.

09/02/2026

Singer Spotlight: Cinzia Forasiepi

Cinzia began her musical journey in her home country of Italy as a choir singer and flutist before moving to Canada to study voice at the University of Victoria.

In 2013, her voice teacher, longtime Sonoma Bach member Lauren Haile, introduced her to Bob, and she has been singing alto with Circa 1600 ever since! In 2023, she joined the Bach Choir and, more recently, the newly formed Wild Rose Treble Ensemble, where she loves performing as a low alto. She has also served as a Sonoma Bach Board Member since 2017.

Apart from music, Cinzia has built a twenty-year career in higher education, including sixteen years teaching at Sonoma State University and online courses at several California universities.

Now retired from education, she loves teaching Italian and serving as sous-chef to her engineer husband when he prepares desserts for her fellow singers at various Sonoma Bach events and choir retreats.

We’re so lucky to have her brilliant mind and beautiful voice in our community!

08/26/2026

ON OUR BOOKSHELF:  
To deepen our connection to the music this season, we are introducing On Our Bookshelf, a curated literary pairing for every concert program. By matching each performance with a compelling book, we invite you to explore and deepen your connection to our theme. We hope these selections spark lively conversations and offer a beautiful new window into the Only Connect experience, both inside and outside the concert hall.

Opening Recital: The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
Harvest Time: The Song of Songs: The World’s First Great Love Poem (Chana and Ariel Bloch)
Early Music Christmas: Christmas Poems (ed. John Hollander and J.D. McClatchy)
Organ Recital: A Mixture of Frailties (Robertson Davies)
Sacred Realms: Picturing the Apocalypse (O’Hear and O’Hear)
Spring Returns: The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
(Robin Wall Kimmerer)
Season Finale: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters (Priya Parker)

Address

PO Box 656
Cotati, CA
94931

Telephone

+17073479491

Website

http://www.sonomabach.org/

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