For its first Bach Birthday Bash performance, The Worcester Chorus will perform Bach’s Secular Cantatas on stage at historic Mechanics Hall.

BWV 213 – Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen
BWV 214 – Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!

The Worcester Chorus, under the sponsorship of Music Worcester, Inc., has the unique distinction of being one of the most outstanding on-going choral groups in the United States. Founded in 1858 to singat the first annual Worcester Music Festival in the newly-built Mechanics Hall, the 100-member group includes both amateur and professional singers from Worcester County and throughout Southern New England.

Its repertoire includes not only the western world’s finest choral masterpieces, but also contemporary literature, arrangements of American folk songs, classics from the musical theater and commissioned works. Each year the Chorus performs with orchestras and soloists in Mechanics Hall and throughout Greater Worcester, including an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah. The Worcester Chorus has also made guest appearances at world famous venues (including Carnegie Hall) throughout the Northeast and overseas.

Boston’s Grammy-winning Handel and Haydn Society will perform Bach’s Concerti for Two Harpsichords in this highlight presentation of 2025’s Bach Birthday Bash series on stage at historic Mechanics Hall, featuring harpsichordist Ian Watson.

Handel + Haydn Society | Ian Watson

H+H performed the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah in its first concert in 1815, gave the American premiere in 1818, and ever since has been both a musical and a civic leader in the Boston community. During the Civil War, H+H gave numerous concerts in support of the Union Army (H+H member Julia Ward Howe wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”) and on January 1, 1863, H+H performed at the Grand Jubilee Concert celebrating the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation. Two years later, H+H performed at the memorial service for Abraham Lincoln.

The many members of the Worcester Bach Collective will join together to conclude our Bach’s Birthday Bash 2025 Series with a performance of these Cantatas from the stage at historic Mechanics Hall.Cantatas:
BWV 36 – Schwingt freudig euch empor
BWV 133 – Ich freue mich in dir
BWV 40 – Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes
BWV 64 – Sehet, welch eine Leibe
BWV 28 – Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu EndeTickets grant admission to enjoy complimentary cake and champagne during the intermission.

Mark Mummert (b. 1965) is Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA), Worcester, MA where he leads the music in all worship services, conducts the Trinity Choir, Trinity Choristers, Trinity Junior Choristers, and is artistic director of the Music at Trinity fine arts series.Mark is also the Assistant Director / Accompanist for The Worcester Chorus of Music Worcester, Inc., (Dr. Chris Shepard, Artistic Director) and the director of The Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble.

Prior to moving to Worcester, Mark was the 2015 Distinguished Visiting Cantor at the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg. Mark served as the Director of Worship at Houston’s Christ the King Lutheran Church (2008-2015) and as Seminary Musician at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (1990-2008).

Hailed by Rolling Stone as “someone whose subtle, carefully crafted music delivers rewards to listeners who know how to wait,” González’s stellar career can only be described as a dream.

José González is in a class by himself. From selling out tours on virtually every continent to headlining prestigious festivals around the world to being asked to perform at 2020’s Nobel Prize Award Ceremony and seeing his recorded music exceed 1 billion streams, González is one of the most exciting and in-demand touring artists working today. Whether appearing alone with his guitar or with a 20-piece orchestra, or with his band The Brite Lites, or choosing between duo and trio formats, his performances are never merely shows – they are events. And González has every intention of continuing this tradition as he prepares his fully solo tour in support of the eagerly awaited release of his fourth studio album, LOCAL VALLEY. The visionary singer-songwriter/guitarist’s long-awaited album, and first to contain songs in all of the languages he speaks (English, Spanish and Swedish), LOCAL VALLEY provides a welcome reminder of the Gothenburg, Sweden-based artist’s understated appeal and unabashed intimacy, a quality Billboard praised as “one of the most recognizable sounds in indie rock.”

“Even though A Far Cry has decisively established itself as a mainstay of the Boston musical community, something about it feels perpetually fresh with every performance.” —The Boston Globe

A Far Cry has risen to the top of Billboard’s Traditional Classical Chart and was named Boston’s best classical ensemble by The Improper Bostonian. In 2023, in a testament to the group’s stellar collaborative nature, all three albums the group was involved with were nominated for a GRAMMY Award. For their Groton Hill appearance, “For” Seasons – A Far Cry’s take on Vivaldi’s iconic Four Seasons – will explore the work through a lens of nostalgia with a call to action on climate change. Along with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the program includes works by Thorvaldsdottir, Sufjan Stevens, Quinn Mason, and Caroline Shaw.

So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience
Starring Robert Neary

This is a show unlike any tribute you have ever seen or heard before. As a Broadway, television, and motion picture actor for over 35 years, Robert Neary creates a one of a kind, cut above the rest, production. He talks about the songs and tells stories behind them.  You will swear you are watching the master himself, as he and the band perform 20 of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits.  Songs like “Cherry Cherry”, “I Am, I Said”, “I’m a Believer”, “Solitary Man”, “Holly Holy”, “Coming to America”, “Sweet Caroline” and so many more. With a surprise finale that will leave you absolutely breathless. Close your eyes while you play the promo video and hear how exactly Robert has captured every nuance of Neil Diamond’s signature vocals.  You can only imagine the amazement that it brings when you witness the show live. So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience is guaranteed to leave you speechless!

Born and raised in East Meadow, Long Island, NY, Robert Neary gained immediate success as an actor, when he was 20 years old, with a guest star role in the Television series “Fame”, and then opposite Jason Bateman in the film, “Teen Wolf Too”. He has since gone on to guest star in over 50 television shows, including “Criminal Minds”, “Sons of Anarchy”, “The Closer”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, ” Blue Bloods”, “Justified”, “The Fosters”, “FBI: Most Wanted”, “Weeds”, “Medium” “NCIS” and “NCIS New Orleans”.  He landed his first Broadway show in 1996, starring in “Smokey Joe’s Café”, and then toured as the evil Zoser in Elton John’s Broadway hit “Aida”.  He understudied the lead role of Sonny in the Broadway smash, “A Bronx Tale, The Musical”.  Robert grew up listening, mimicking, and creating his style to only 2 people in the music world. Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond.