Baroque Program Brings Bach and Community Together on Whidbey Island

The Whidbey Island Music Festival announced a Sunday afternoon concert titled Bach to the Future that brings baroque repertoire and early music performers to St. Augustine's in the Woods in South Whidbey. Scheduled for 3 p.m. on Nov. 16, the program features rising early music artists alongside baroque violinist Tekla Cunningham and harpsichordist Henry Lebedinsky. Works by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Telemann and other composers will anchor the program.

Festival organizers describe the presentation as part of a broader commitment to historically informed performance practice and educational programming. The concert is positioned both as an artistic event and as a community resource, reflecting the festival's stated mission to deepen local engagement with early music traditions. The inclusion of younger artists alongside established performers suggests an emphasis on mentorship and on cultivating the next generation of historically informed musicians.

For local residents, the event offers access to specialized repertoire that is not regularly programmed by larger regional presenters. The choice of St. Augustine's in the Woods as a venue adds a community dimension, situating the performance in a familiar South Whidbey setting and potentially supporting local foot traffic on a weekend afternoon. Audiences can expect a program informed by baroque techniques and period sensibilities, with instrumentation centered on baroque violin and harpsichord.

Beyond the immediate concert experience, the festival's approach has implications for arts education and civic life on Whidbey Island. Historically informed performances can provide learning opportunities for students, amateur musicians and general audiences by exposing them to performance practices rooted in historical research. The festival's educational programming aims to expand those opportunities, although specifics of workshops or school partnerships were not detailed in the announcement.

This event also fits into a larger pattern of regional cultural offerings that balance touring artists with locally based presenters and venues. By showcasing rising artists, the festival contributes to professional development pathways that sustain the classical and early music ecosystem. For local policymakers and cultural stakeholders, such events support arguments for continued investment in public access to the arts and in partnerships between festivals, churches and community organizations.

The concert announcement was published on Nov. 14, 2025. For residents seeking to attend, the performance represents a chance to experience baroque repertoire in an intimate community setting, to see emerging talent alongside established practitioners, and to participate in a festival that foregrounds both historical fidelity and educational outreach.