Robert Bergt (January 7, 1930 – July 26, 2011) was Artist-in-Residence and Bach scholar at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, a position he held since 1995. Bergt is known as a symphonic and chorale conductor with a specialization in the music of

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

and other masters of the Baroque, Renaissance, Classical, and Neoclassical periods.

Career

Bergt was founder and music director of the American Kantorei. Bergt had held tenure at three academic institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels: Concordia Seminary in St. Louis as instructor from 1956 to 1960 and as assistant/associate professor in the areas of Church Music and Worship from 1960 to 1974,

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Southern Illinois University (SIU or SIUC) is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois. Founded in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. The university enrolls students from all 50 st ...

from 1974 to 1984, and at Valparaiso University from 1984 to 1988. Tokyo’s

Musashino Academia Musicae , located in Tokyo, Japan, is a music conservatory founded in 1929. After World War II, the music school expanded, becoming the Musashino College of Music. It now has educational sites in Nerima, Iruma, Saitama, and Tama, Tokyo. Concert halls ...

engaged Bergt as orchestral conductor and graduate professor of chamber music in 1981 and again on a continuing basis from 1988 to 1995. Bergt was concertmaster and assistant conductor of the St. Louis Philharmonic from 1949 to 1955. He appeared as soloist with the

Minneapolis Symphony The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded originally as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, the Minnesota Orchestra plays most of its concerts at Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall. History Emi ...

in 1956. In addition, he was first violinist of Ford Foundation Young Audiences String Quartet from 1960 to 1968. At the seminary, he conducted the Chapel Choir, the Schola Cantorum, and the Seminary Chorus. He also held the position of concertmaster with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Civic Orchestras. In 1972, he conducted the American Kantorei in the opening concert of the National American Guild of Organists, Dallas, in performances of Bach's Motets 1, 2, 5, and 6.

Awards

In 2000, Bergt received the Wittenberg Award from the Luther Institute, Washington D.C., for outstanding contributions through art and music to the international community and Church. The Avis Blewett Award was bestowed on Bergt in 1966 by the St. Louis Regional Chapel of the AGO in recognition of distinguished music contributions to the community. Classical radio station KFUO-FM honored him in 2004 for his outstanding service and contributions to St. Louis metropolitan region and the world through KFUO’s worldwide internet streaming.

References

External links

*http://concordiatheology.org/2010/10/bach-at-the-sem-opening-19th-season/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Bergt, Robert 1930 births American violinists American male violinists 2011 deaths American conductors (music) American male conductors (music) Valparaiso University faculty Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty Bach conductors Bach scholars