Carmel Bach Festival facts for kids

The Carmel Bach Festival is a yearly music event in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It's a series of concerts that feature classical music. People from all over come to enjoy the beautiful music.

The Festival's Beginnings

The Carmel Bach Festival has a long history! It started because of the Carmel Music Society. In 1927, Henry F. Dickinson and his wife Edith helped create this society. Henry was the first treasurer, and Edith was one of its first presidents. They even hosted visiting musicians at their home on Carmel Point.

In 1935, the Carmel Music Society helped start the Carmel Bach Festival. It began as a short festival, lasting only three or four days. During these days, there were open rehearsals, special events, and concerts. Early conductors included Ernst Bacon and Gastone Usigli.

Leaders of the Festival

In 1938, Gastone Usigli became the Music Director. He led the festival for many years until he passed away in 1956. After him, Dene Denny chose a new conductor named Sandor Salgo. Salgo was from Hungary and led the festival until 1991.

After Salgo retired, Bruno Weil took over as Music Director and Conductor. Maestro Weil led the festival until 2010.

In 2023, a new leader was announced: Grete Pedersen. She is the current artistic director and principal conductor. Grete Pedersen is the first woman to hold this important position. She is only the sixth artistic director in the festival's history.

Times When the Festival Paused

The Carmel Bach Festival has been held almost every year. However, it was cancelled a few times. From 1942 to 1945, the festival did not happen because of World War II. More recently, in 2020, the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.