Join the American Bach Society

The American Bach Society supports the study, performance, and appreciation of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, his family, and contemporaries. Founded as a chapter of the Neue Bachgesellschaft in 1972, the ABS was incorporated as an independent non-profit foundation in 1988. ABS programs include conferences, publications, grants, prizes, and competitions.

Scholars, performers, educators, students, arts administrators, and lovers and connoisseurs of the music of J. S. Bach and his circle are invited to join.

Membership benefits include:

Biennial Meeting

Members are invited to attend the ABS’s Biennial Meeting and Conference, which features performances, lectures, papers, masterclasses, and round-table discussions with leading North American and international Bach scholars and performers. Members receive a special registration rate for the conference.

Publications

All members of the ABS receive a subscription to Bach Perspectives, the society’s journal. Bach Perspectives has pioneered new areas of research in the life, times, and music of Bach and his circle and is published biennially in a hard-bound series by the University of Illinois Press. Members also receive Bach Notes, the society’s newsletter which is distributed by email or in print twice annually. Bach Notes keeps members abreast of Bach publications, recordings, performances, festivals, and workshops, and publishes reviews by America’s leading Bach experts of recent Bach books and recordings.

Gifts

Members occasionally receive gifts. Past gifts have included recent scholarly books related to Bach, as well as facsimiles of Bach’s music and unique recordings.

Grants and Awards

Members are eligible to apply for ABS awards, research fellowships, and grants.

Your support, and the support of our members worldwide, is essential to the success of the ABS’s programs. Thank you. Membership runs from January 1 – December 31.

Membership Rates (effective through December 31, 2025):

  • Regular Member - $50
  • Student Member - $25
  • Retired Member - $25
  • Joint (2 members of the same household) - $75

Also, please consider donating in support of the ABS’s programs by making an unrestricted contribution to the ABS or supporting one of our restricted donor funds.

Legacy Gifts

Consider making a lasting impact by including the American Bach Society in your estate planning. To discuss endowed gifts; gifts of securities, stocks and bonds; gifts through a will or trust; or gifts through an insurance plan, please contact the ABS Secretary/Treasurer. Thank you.

Membership / Donation Form

To join the Society or to renew your membership using a credit card, please fill out the following membership form.

The American Bach Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and any contributions received beyond the cost of membership are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.


Are you a renewing member or a new member? If you are renewing, and your contact information hasn’t changed since last year, we can use that.

Membership

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Contact Information

If you have questions concerning membership, please contact the membership coordinator, at info@americanbachsociety.org.

For all other inquiries concerning the Society, please contact:

Derek Stauff, ABS Secretary-Treasurer
Music Department
Hillsdale College
33 E College St
Hillsdale, MI 49242

email: treasurer@americanbachsociety.org