About BAS

The Bach Aria Soloists is the dynamic ensemble dedicated to presenting the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, his contemporaries and those inspired by him to the community. Through informative performances of vocal and instrumental chamber music, masterclasses, and Bachreach education, the Bach Aria Soloists brings the brilliant music of Bach, the Baroque, and the contemporary to new life in the intimate settings for which this music was intended.

a 15 minute documentary is available on DVD (contact us for more information) abbreviated (7:21) version above.

Since 2000, our Hauskonzert series (video introduction 2:10) has been sponsored by benefactors who host concerts in their own homes, thus re-creating Bach’s original chamber music setting… the home/chamber. We perform the most glorious music by the finest musicians in the most splendid homes, amongst friends…

Education to students is integral to our activities. We have visited schools throughout the area offering Bachreach:

• introduction to the genius of Bach
• introduction to our individual instruments
• presentations of chamber music
• coaching to music students on chamber and orchestral repertoire

Collaboration is our mantra. In 2007, the Bach Aria Soloists presented the world’s authority on Bach, Christoph Wolff, Adams University Professor at Harvard University, in a sensational BAS concert, which captivated the record-breaking, filled-to-capacity audience at the Kansas City Public Library. This was his first appearance in Kansas City, and was a sellout.

During 2006, Elizabeth Suh Lane, 1st Violin / Artistic Director of Bach Aria Soloists and Elizabeth Koeppen, Principal Dancer and Assistant Director of the world-renowned David Parsons Dance Company in New York collaborated to create Accompagnata…a ViolinDance. Solo violin selections from Bach’s monumental masterpiece, Six Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin, were played by Elizabeth Suh Lane and danced by Elizabeth Koeppen

We are the Bach Aria Soloists, founded by Elizabeth Suh Lane. We are accomplished professional musicians and singers dedicated to presenting the miraculous arias from Johann Sebastian Bach’s voluminous cantata collection as well as solo and chamber music by Bach, his contemporaries, and composers inspired by him.

Our world premiere program of “Accompagnata, a ViolinDance” was a rousing success, and brought scores of new patrons to Bach, and the Bach Aria Soloists. We have produced a DVD of the collaboration with Elizabeth Koeppen for future educational, and performance opportunities. If you are interested in this project, please contact Elizabeth Suh Lane (elizabeth@bachariasoloists.com).

“Accompagnata, a ViolinDance” June 3, 2006

“Hauskonzert” is our celebrated house-concert series founded in the year 2000. Each concert is sponsored by a benefactor in their residence, creating the original setting for chamber music as Bach, himself, offered in his own home, and in his Ordinaire Concerten Coffeehouse series. Through our Hauskonzert series, we offer the community the most magnificent music by the finest local artists in the most splendid residences in the city. If you are interested in sponsoring a concert or would like to become a Friend of the Bach Aria Soloists, please fill out and submit this form:

(friend form)

Hauskonzert series

Education in the community is of vital importance to our ensemble. We take our program, Bachreach, into the schools from preschool to college, introducing youth to Bach and baroque arias, chamber music, and popular tunes in a live, interactive presentation tailored to the student audience. The BAS have offered Bachreach to Visitation Catholic School, Pembroke Middle School, Good Shepherd’s Catholic School, to preschool and elementary students at St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School, and senior citizens at the Shepherd’s Center.

Education: Bach Aria Soloists with guest Dr. Christoph Wolff,  the world’s authority of Bach, April 28, 2007 at the Kansas City Public Library

The Bach Aria Soloists will be continuing their outstanding partnership with the Kansas City Public Library in the 2008-2009 Season. The Library Series offers the excellence of the BAS in two of the greatest chamber music venues in Kansas City, Kirk Hall in the Central Library, and the new Truman Forum in the Plaza Library. The Bach Aria Soloists and the Kansas City Public Library present these free concerts as their gift to the Kansas City community.

A trio from the Bach Aria Soloists was invited to perform in April 2005 on the Nantucket Arts Council Series in a standing-room only concert at the Coffin School in Nantucket. The musicians were treated to a standing ovation by the sold-out crowd!

In 2005, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation invited the Bach Aria Soloists to present professional development classes entitled, “Bach to the Future” to their employees. The Foundation’s employees had the unique opportunity of attending a vibrant “Open rehearsal” by the BAS artists, and the possibility of asking questions throughout, while the musicians rehearsed.

We assist string teachers by doing “coachings” of their orchestra or chamber music repertoire, a most valuable service which helps to bring the ensembles to a higher level. Elizabeth is in great demand with high schools in the metropolitan area as a chamber and orchestra clinician. In 2006, she was invited to be clinician for the violin sections of Blue Valley Northwest, Shawnee Mission East, Lawrence, Olathe High Schools, the Kansas City Youth Symphonies and 2 Lee’s Summit High Schools, where she taught chamber music masterclasses.

In 2002, we had the honor of performing as part of the Lloyd B. Thomas Lecture and Performance Series at the University of Missouri-Columbia. We presented masterclasses to the top college students from the Fine Arts department in the areas of piano, voice, and strings, as well as a free public concert. The BAS have also performed a free concert in Bales Recital Hall at the University of Kansas, and for enthusiastic listeners at our Ruel-Joyce Series recital on the campus of Johnson County Community College.