Project Bach

Carlos Montilla, MassArt illustration student

Fifty-two students from Massachusetts College of Art and Design's Illustration Department have created works of visual art inspired by Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Ten gifted artists were selected to display their artwork at the Handel and Haydn performances at Symphony Hall on March 30 and April 1.

The Bach St. Matthew Passion concert is the focal point of Project Bach, an educational outreach initiative supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Project Bach continues the Handel and Haydn Society’s exploration of historically significant works premiered in the US by H&H, which takes its audience on a journey from its founding in 1815 as a choral society dedicated to the betterment of cultural life in Boston to its Bicentennial in 2015. A wide range of education and outreach initiatives will complement the performances in order to deepen audiences’ understanding of the work and enhance their musical experience; engage children, students, and adults of diverse backgrounds in Baroque and Classical music; and strengthen H&H’s connections with its community.
 
As part of Project Bach, H&H has partnered with Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) for a multidisciplinary exploration of the work. Under the instruction of professors Ric Allendorf, Paul Olson, and Wojciech Wolynski, fifty-two students from the Illustration Department created visual works of art in response to hearing Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Filming of the students took place last week in order to create a video of the experience. The images were posted on the Handel and Haydn Facebook page and fans were asked to choose their favorites. Ten students then were selected to display their works at Symphony Hall for the performances on March 30 and April 1. 

See the illustrations

Student interviews
 
Each of the artists who participated will receive tickets to attend the performance at Symphony Hall.