“Bach for Life” Campaign
Our Development Plan for the future is detailed below. Scroll down and read all about what we want to do.
Our first objective is to raise £25,000 as seed-corn so that when a suitable venue is identified for rental or sponsorship-in-kind, we can make the move and establish ourselves.
Gift Aid: London Bach Society is a registered charity (1082788) and as such can invite donors to Gift Aid their donations. This enables the Society to reclaim tax (25p for every £ donated) if the donor is a UK taxpayer. That increases the value of the gift to the Society by 20%. Here is an example: You donate £1,000 and sign a Gift Aid Declaration. The London Bach Society then reclaims tax of £250, making the gift worth £1,250 to the Society. Higher rate taxpayers can claim higher rate relief on the payment by entering the amount in the Gift Aid box on their self-assessment tax return.
To donate and make an Oral Gift Aid Declaration – Call 01883 717372
In November 2010 we launched our new Development Campaign in the Cloister of the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew-the-Great in the City of London. We have called it “Bach for Life” .
The objectives have been set to meet the needs of the London Bach Society in the future and inspired by the sentiments of one of the most celebrated cellists and Bach interpreters of the 20th century Pablo Casals when he wrote…
“For the past eighty years I have started each day in the same manner. It is not a mechanical routine but something essential to my daily life. I go to the piano, and I play two preludes and fugues of Bach. I cannot think of doing otherwise. It is a sort of benediction on the house. But that is not its only meaning for me. It is a rediscovery of the world of which I have the joy of being a part. It fills me with awareness of the wonder of life, with a feeling of the incredible marvel of being a human being. The music is never the same for me, never. Each day it is something new, fantastic and unbelievable. That is Bach, like nature, a miracle.”
Our three objectives
The three objectives of the campaign are: -
- To provide a central headquarters for the London Bach Society from which the Society can operate, house its Library and Archive, and develop its performing and educational activities
- To develop the Society’s charitable and artistic purpose as a Centre for Bach Performance and Study
- To enhance and extend the existing network of support, support for the performing activities, educational and outreach work, audience development and general well-being
What targets have we set?
In the current economic climate, no target figure to be raised or date has been set. This is a campaign that will run in tandem with our current work until such time as we have found our new home in London. The three objectives will influence forward planning from now onwards as we prepare for the day when we can move into a London home.
What will be the chief benefits of having such a home?
The London Bach Society will be more visible and accessible and have a venue from which to promote its activities. Open Houses will enable everyone and especially those who support us, donors, members and volunteers, to come and see us at work, explore our Bach Orchestral Library, use it for study and enjoy our archive to the full… in other words to get involved.
Our Progress so far
Our campaign is launched and its objectives are now known. It is bold, imaginative and an entirely logical next step for the Society, as our Webpages will reinforce. We leave you with the following….
Joh. Philipp Kirnberger , one of Bach’s pupils, wrote:
“The great J. Seb. Bach used to say “Everything must be possible”, and he would never hear of anything’s being ‘not feasible’. This has always spurred me onward to accomplish many difficult things in music, by dint of effort and patience, according to my own poor powers.” Extract taken from -The New Bach Reader, p.412
More updates will follow…. call us on 01883 717372 to find out more or send us an email to lbs@lonbachsoc.demon.co.uk