Bachathon

Bachathon 2026  

Organ music of Johann Sebastian Bach
in three locations
performed by a traveling team of four organists!

Celebrating the 341st birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach.

 

 

Locations

North Spokane – 1:00 pm – Whitworth Church

South Spokane – 2:30 pm – Saint Augustine Catholic Church

Coeur d’Alene – 4:00 pm – Trinity Lutheran Church

 

Organ Stoplists

 

Program

Mobile Version

Print Version

 

Fantasia in G major – BWV 572

Chorale in English or German: In Thee is Gladness/In dir ist Freude

In dir ist Freude – BWV 615

Prelude and Fugue in C major – BWV 547

Toccata and Fugue in D minor – BWV 565

Prelude and Fugue in G major – BWV 541

 

 

Organists

 

Scarlett Thomsen 2026

Scarlett Thomsen is almost thirteen and has been playing piano for eight years. Her first experiences on organ were playing for her church, Mount Saint Michael, when she was about ten years old. Since last year’s Organ Academy, she has been studying with Edward Hurd. She is also a new member of the American Guild of Organists. When not playing the organ, Scarlett loves to read, hang out with friends, and sing soprano in the parish choir.

 

 

 

Jonathan Truong

Jonathan Truong, CAGO, began his music studies with piano at the age of six, thanks to the encouragement of his parents. Jonathan is professionally certified as a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists (CAGO). He served as accompanist and bass singer with the Tehachapi Symphonic Chorus; he has performed as a cellist in the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra and Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra in California.

Since moving to Idaho, Jonathan has held the position of organist for Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Post Falls, where he also sings tenor and occasionally directs the chant schola. He participates in the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah as a chorus member. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, drinking tea, and playing the ukulele and kendama. All glory be to God!

 

Helen Byrne

Helen Byrne, SPC, is music director and organist for Manito Presbyterian Church. An amazing keyboardist and teacher, she is also assistant principal cellist with the Spokane Symphony. Byrne is the cellist with the well-known Spokane String Quartet. A native of Spokane, she began her cello studies with Carol Graef. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in cello performance and, in 1982, joined the Spokane Symphony. She plays a cello made in 1820 by Thomas Kennedy.

 

 

 

Edward Hurd

Edward Hurd holds a bachelor of music education degree from Central Washington University, Ellensburg, where he spent four years as organist and assistant music director at First Presbyterian Church. While teaching at East Valley High School in Spokane Valley, he served as director of music ministries for Opportunity Presbyterian Church. He was full-time director of music ministries (organist/choirmaster) for First Presbyterian Church in Mesa, Ariz. while completing his graduate studies in choral conducting at Arizona State University. For ten years, he served as associate director of music and organist for All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Phoenix. He has conducted choral ensembles twice at the St. Moritz Festival (Switzerland), and numerous tours and festivals throughout England, Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Russia. Hurd’s principal conducting teachers include the late B. Fred Hammack, G. Gordon Leavitt, and Douglas McEwen.

While in Nebraska, Hurd served as director of traditional worship (organist/ choirmaster) for the 2,500-member congregation of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, La Vista, for nine years. He was artistic director for the 200-voice community chorus, Voices of Omaha, for eight years. He was performance rentals director for Omaha Performing Arts which operates the Orpheum Theater and renowned Holland Performing Arts Center, joining the organization as general manager in 2003.

Since returning to Spokane, Hurd was organist/bellmaster for Opportunity Presbyterian Church in Spokane Valley before joining the staff of Central Lutheran Church. Hurd is currently organist for the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Spokane. Additionally, he is a busy substitute music teacher for Spokane Public Schools and maintains a private piano and voice teaching studio. Hurd is a frequent adjudicator for area solo/ensemble contests.

Hurd is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association. He serves on the Board of Officers for the AGO – Spokane Chapter in the role of dean.

 

 

Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach

At a Glance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 1685, March 31 – Johann Sebastian Bach was born to Johann Ambrosius; Bach and Maria Lämmerhirt, Eisenach.
  • 1694 – Death of parents, 10-year-old Bach moves in with eldest brother Johann Christoph Bach, Ohrdruf.
  • 1700 – Begins study at prestigious St. Michael’s School, Lüneberg.
  • 1703, January – Appointed court musician to Duke Johann Ernst III, in Weimar.
  • 1703, August – Appointed organist at New Church, Arnstadt.
  • 1705-1706 – Takes a four-week leave to study with Johann Reincken in Lübeck, is gone for four months. Famously walks 280 miles each way from Arnstadt to Lübeck to hear Buxtehude perform and meet Reincken.
  • 1707, July – Assumes organist/composer duties at Blasius Church, Mühlhausen.
  • 1707, November – Marries Maria Barbara Bach.
  • 1708 – Returns to Weimar as organist. First child Catharina Dorothea is born. Six children were born in Weimar, including: Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel, and Johann Gottfried Bernard. Three die before their first birthday including twins born in 1713.
  • 1714 – Appointed Konzertmeister at the ducal court, Weimar.
  • 1717 – Hired by Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen as Kapellmeister, Köthen.
  • 1720, July – Wife Maria Barbara Bach suddenly dies.
  • 1721, December – Marries Anna Magdalena Wilcke. Together they had 13 children, six of whom survived into adulthood, including: Gottfried Heinrich, Johann Christoph Friedrich, and Johann Christian.
  • 1723 – Hired as director of church music by the Leipzig city council. Directed St. Thomas School and provided four churches with music: St. Thomas Church, St. Nicholas Church, New Church, and St. Peter’s Church.
  • 1749, January – Health declining, becoming blind.
  • 1750, July 28 – Bach dies of infection following eye surgery by the charlatan John Taylor.

 

Street Team Assets

Bachathon 2026Chapter members:

  • Print/place posters in your choir room or studio
  • Place posters wherever lovers of Bach’s music might see them
  • Share images on social media
  • Repost chapter posts on your social media page
  • Include promo images in your Sunday service leaflet or congregation newsletter
  • Insert half-page fliers in your service leaflet

Here are links for downloading image assets you can use! Post on your social media pages.

Pro Tip: print poster/flier .jpeg files directly from your image viewer for best resolution.

 

Print Posters & Fliers

Social Media – all sized for optimum display, 2025 dimensions

Press release.

Thank you for your help!

 

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