J. S. Bach Foundation

Cantatas, Youth Work & Dissemination

The J.S. Bach Foundation promotes cultural life in eastern Switzerland through the performance of Bach's complete vocal works, and in 2016 initiated a reorganisation to make this more efficient. Due to high costs, it focuses on its own projects and does not support external projects financially.

Back to overview

J S Bachstiftung Pic X Jeg Fotobyjelenagernert – J. S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen — J S Bachstiftung Pic X Jeg Fotobyjelenagernert

Performance and promotion of Bach's Vocal OeuVRE

The J. S. Bach Foundation – DEDICATED to music

In accordance with its founding documents, the J.S. Bach Foundation endeavours to promote cultural life in Eastern Switzerland by supporting institutions and individuals seeking to organise public performances of Johann Sebastian Bach's works with the purpose of providing the public, in particular young people, with a better understanding of the composer's work. In 2011, a second foundation, the International J.S. Bach Foundation of Zurich (whose activities are not limited to a particular region) was founded with its registered office in Zurich.

Performances of Bach's cantatas are relatively rare due to their high operating costs. The works are often very short, yet they call for a complex infrastructure: an orchestra with period instruments, solo vocalists and a choir. Indeed, without substantial funding, performing the cantatas is unthinkable.

In January 2016, the J.S. Bach Foundation commenced a fundamental restructuring of its organisation in order to enhance management efficiency and meet the operative demands of its concert and publishing activities, which have grown continually since 2006. Key steps in the reorganisation were realised in the first quarter of 2017: the operative activities of the Foundation were transferred from the J.S. Bach Foundation to its subsidiary, J.S. Bach St. Gallen AG, to enable the Foundation to focus on financing the performance of the entire vocal oeuvre of Johann Sebastian Bach, in accordance with its statutory aims.

Performing the complete vocal oeuvre of J.S. Bach with our own ensemble and making audio and video recordings of the concerts demands a high level of funding. For this reason, the Foundation must focus on its own goals and is not able to financially support any third-party projects.

Purpose of the foundation

J S Bachstiftung Pic X Jsbs Johannespassion Appenzeller Bachtage Kammermusik

J S Bachstiftung Pic X Jsbs Johannespassion Appenzeller Bachtage Akademiell

J S Bachstiftung Pic X – J. S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen — J S Bachstiftung Pic X

Board of Trustees & Management

Konrad Hummler – J. S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen — Konrad Hummler

Dr. Konrad Hummler President of the Foundation Board of the J.S. Bach Foundation and President of the Board of Directors of the J.S. Bach St. Gallen AG

Christoph Rohner – J. S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen — Christoph Rohner

Dr. Christoph Rohner Member of the Foundation Board

Cla Reto Famos – J. S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen — Cla Reto Famos

Dr. Cla Reto Famos Member of the Foundation Board

Anneliese Looser D C – J. S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen — Anneliese Looser D C

Anneliese Looser Management of the foundations; publishing and web manager

Foundation Supervision

As a non-profit organisation, the J.S. Bach Foundation of St. Gallen is not subject to taxation. Thus, all contributions to the Foundation are tax deductable to the extent that they are recognised as such by the relevant authorities. The J.S. Bach Foundation is subject to the supervision of the “Ostschweizerische BVG- und Stiftungsaufsicht”, a supervisory body to which it annually submits an extensive statement of accounts.

eine Gruppe von Menschen, die Instrumente spielen bei einem Auftritt