Masaaki Suzuki Honored

During its biennial meeting held at Yale in April, the American Bach Society awarded Masaaki Suzuki an honorary membership for his storied accomplishments as a performer and champion of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. In presenting the award, Society president Markus Rathey, Robert S. Tangeman of Music History at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music (ISM), noted Suzuki’s impact on the performance of Baroque music not only in the U.S. and his native Japan, but all over the world.

“As a conductor, harpsichordist, and organist, Suzuki has been one of the most prolific performers of Bach’s music for more than two decades,” Rathey said in making the presentation in Woolsey Hall. Following the ceremony, Suzuki, who is principal guest conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum, conducted the period orchestra Juilliard415 and a chorus, composed mainly of ISM and Schola alumni, in a magnificent performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor.