Cantata Collective Presents its 10th Season, 2026-2027

Cantata Collective, San Francisco's only professional Ensemble dedicated solely to the performance of the Cantatas of J.S. Bach, is pleased to announce its Tenth Season of FREE Bach concerts—events that have become a mainstay of the Bay Area's musical landscape.

"A group of local early-music luminaries devoted to the composer's 200-plus compositions in the genre" (San Francisco Chronicle), Cantata Collective is supported by an enthusiastic Board of Directors, and endorsed by an illustrious Advisory Board. Together with its "congregation" it has created a magical community of listeners who share in this traversal of musical treasures. Cantata Collective presents these iconic works as the equivalent of a World Heritage Site, a collection of masterworks belonging to all people.

Cantata Collective’s performances in its acoustically perfect home, St. Mary Magdalen Church, in Berkeley, California are FREE to the public. The Tenth Season is made possible thanks to grants from Benevity, The Chicago Community Trust, the Richard and Mary L. Gray Foundation, the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, the Richard M. and Susan L. Kaplan Philanthropic Fund, the KAVAH Fund, the Waverley Fund and generous individual support.

The highlight of the 2025-26 Season was the sold out performance of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion conducted by Nicholas McGegan. A recording of that monumental work was released this past April to critical acclaim. This was the 4th installment in the group’s groundbreaking series for AVIE records that will conclude with the Christmas Oratorio in December 2026. That recording is set for release in Spring, 2027.

Early Music America wrote following the release of their first recording: “To the excellent musicians of the Cantata Collective, MORE BACH, PLEASE!” The Ensemble’s growing discography reflects that request and has received international critical acclaim. Details and excerpts from the press can be found on the Recording Initiative on this website.

2026-27 Season of FREE Bach Concerts

All FREE Cantata concerts are presented on Sundays at 5PM at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman Street in Berkeley