Directions to Middleton High School Orchestra Room
All events are free and open to the public!
Thursday, March 5: Cello Master Class with James Waldo
Time: 4:30-6:30pm
Place: Middleton High School Orchestra Room
Directions & Map
Cello Master Class Program
Friday, March 6: Musicale: ” A Family Affair – Music of Bach’s Family”
Time: 12:15-1PM
Place: First Unitarian Society, Madison
FUS Musicale Program
Saturday, March 7: Marathon, Finale Concert & Birthday Party
Time: 9:30AM – 6PM
Place: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Madison
Come for an hour or stay all day!
Marathon Program 2026
4:30PM- Finale Concert featuring Guest Artists Luping Robyn Xu, harpsichord, performing Partita No.1 in B-flat major, BWV 825 and Just Bach Concerts performing Cantata 82, “Ich habe genug” and the chorale “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” with period instruments including the Rosa harpsichord.
Finale Concert Program
Concert will be followed by a reception celebrating J.S. Bach’s upcoming birthday!
March 8: Virtual Festival Premiere
Time: 9 AM
Place: BATC You-tube channel
Bach Around The Clock is delighted to welcome Madison cellist, James Waldo, who will be the clinician for our 2026 Cello Masterclass.
Date: March 5, 2026
Time: 4:30-6:30pm
Place: Middleton High School Orchestra Room
Interested cellists are asked to complete the Sign-Up Form and submit a recording by February 20, 2026. See the Sign-Up form for details.
Cellist James Waldo’s “nuanced, richly ambered” playing (Lucid Culture NYC) and “graceful continuo support” (Chicago Classical Review) can be heard in diverse chamber music and recital settings. Notable chamber music appearances include Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully and Merkin Halls, Piccolo Spoleto, the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, Eastern Shore Chamber Music Festival, and the Magisterra Soloists Concerts in London, Ontario. Equally comfortable on modern and period instruments, Waldo is principal cellist of the Madison Bach Musicians and is a founding member of the acclaimed consort ensemble LeStrange Viols. As a recitalist, Waldo and his pianist spouse Alyona A. Waldo have performed at numerous festivals and series together across North America, Europe, and Asia. Waldo received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Music degree from Mannes College. A champion of new music, Waldo is a regular co-commissioner for the Cello Teaching Repertoire Consortium and a frequent performer and score reviewer for LunART Festival for Women Creatives in the Arts. Waldo’s playing will be featured in the forthcoming chamber music album of works by composer Laura Elise Schwendinger. Waldo served as Lecturer of Cello at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from Fall 2022 to Spring 2025, and began a new position this past fall as lower strings specialist at the Madison Country Day School, an Independent IB World School.
Q. Can I perform my Bach selection on any instrument?
A.YES! Anything from clavichord to theramin or from violin to banjo–all instruments are welcome!
Q. Can I play a piece composed by another member of JS Bach’s family?
A. YES! works by members of Bach’s direct family may be performed. Check out “Bach’s Family Tree”
Q. What about something by another composer in the style of Bach or inspired by Bach?
A. MAYBE. All such performance ideas must be approved by the Artistic Director
Q. How long can my performance be?
A. Marathon performances can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as 20 minutes. Longer performances must be approved by the Artistic Director
Q. Does BATC provide keyboard instruments at the marathon?
A. YES, piano, organ and harpsichord will be available. Harpsichordists should request a performance slot as soon as possible because time slots may be limited. Contact the Artistic Director.
Other questions? Contact BATC
The board is delighted to announce that Artistic Director, Kathleen Otterson, has accepted the nomination to become President of the board. The board recognizes the outstanding leadership Kathy has provided as artistic director for the past two festivals, and welcomes her enthusiastically as she assumes this additional role as president.
Joining the BATC board of directors for the coming year are Cecelia Schieve and Jane Jiumaleh. Cecelia brings a wealth of experience from her forty year career as an educator and arts administrator, Jane has in-depth experience in public broadcasting and technology. Welcome to our new board members!
Stepping down from the board this year are Ken Stancer, Rich Samuels, and Betty Cohen. Both Ken and Betty have served on the board since its founding in 2017, and Rich has served for 5 years. Ken will continue to be involved in the festival as liaison to St. Andrew’s, our principal venue. Betty will continue to help out as administrative assistant. And Rich promises to continue his annual BATC preview broadcast on his WORT program next
The 2025-26 board members are:
Kathleen Otterson, President & Artistic Director
Martha Florey, Secretary
Janet Murphy, Treasurer
Steve Kurr
Jaret Schroeder
Mark Brampton Smith
Cecelia Schieve
Jane Jiumaleh
A record-breaking year for Bach Around The Clock!
38 different instruments were played during the Saturday marathon, the Friday musicale, the PDQ Bach Tribute, and/or the Virtual Festival!
The surprisingly extensive selection of instruments demonstrated by our BATC 2024 performers includes:
Total: 38
Kathleen Otterson’s lifelong interest in Johann Sebastian Bach took root in high school
when her flute teacher set her the task of learning the B minor Flute Sonata, and
continued through her undergraduate years as a flute major at UW-Madison. IN
graduate school, under the baton of UW choral director Robert Fountain – who
programmed a Bach motet every calendar year – and the tutelage of voice professor
Ilona Kombrink, the interest in Bach gradually became serious study.
Singing as alto soloist in Bach’s choral works has been a great joy of Kathleen’s
professional singing life: favorites include the Magnificat in D Major, St. John Passion,
the Mass in B minor and the Weinachtsoratorium.
As Music Director at Christ Presbyterian Church, Kathleen has led the Chancel Choir,
Quartet, and orchestra in several of Bach’s cantatas, including Ein feste Burg ist unser
Gott for the 500th anniversary celebration of the German Reformation in 2017; and
excerpts from the St. John Passion in 2013.
Kathleen Otterson is a career teacher: having taught instrumental music in Madison and
Milwaukee; and since 1995, voice lessons to students of all ages in her home studio.
She served for six years on the voice faculty at UW-Oshkosh and retired in 2022 from
Edgewood College after 20 years as vocal instructor and choral director. Kathleen
founded and directs the Artemis Ensemble – an adult treble choir; and sings with the
Isthmus Vocal Ensemble. In 2023, She is honored to have recently received the 2023
Madison Youth Choirs “Carrel Pray Music Educator” award, given annually to an
individual who has made a difference through their teaching.
Previous organizational experience includes state and regional leadership in the
National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS); the Board of Directors of the
Madison Youth Choirs, and she is currently president of the Isthmus Vocal Ensemble
Board.
After 30 years at Christ Presbyterian Church, Kathleen will begin in September 2023 as
choir director at Midvale Community Lutheran Church. This change affords her time and
energy to grow her voice studio and lead BATC!
Kathleen adds: “Being chosen to succeed the late Marika Fischer Hoyt – a friend and
musical collaborator – as Artistic Director of “Bach Around the Clock” is a great honor.
I look forward to working with the BATC Board on this wonderful addition to Madison’s
musical calendar.
Marika Fischer Hoyt, founder and artistic director of Bach Around The Clock, passed away on February 22, 2023.
Marika’s vision for Bach Around The Clock was “to provide performers and listeners the opportunity to immerse themselves in the joy that is woven into the music of J.S. Bach, and to make this experience as widely available as possible.” She saw the BATC festival as a “musical crossroads, where performers from many different organizations and different backgrounds can meet on common ground. Bach’s music is infinitely relevant and infinitely adaptable, and that allows us to reach our hands out in many different directions…to increase our ability to engage with and serve our community.”