News
Press Release (21 August 2026)
Plans Underway for International Celebration of Composer Ernest Bloch in 2030 for his 150th anniversary.
Musicians, ensembles and teaching institutions around the world are gearing up to celebrate the composer Ernest Bloch, one of the twentieth century’s most distinctive musical voices and an important figure in American musical life.
Marking the 150th anniversary of his birth, celebratory events around the world and across the United States will include performances, workshops, conferences, publications, and a film project. Bloch was also a serious photographer and exhibitions of his photographs will form an important visual aspect of the anniversary programming. Projects are already in motion, with activity culminating in a year-long celebration in the anniversary year.
A major gathering will take place in autumn 2030 in Newport, Oregon, near Agate Beach where Bloch spent the last eighteen years of his life. The Lincoln County Historical Society is playing a central role in the Newport plans, which are expected to include performances, talks and presentations on Bloch, his family and colleagues. There will be displays of his outstanding photography and personal possessions. The Newport Symphony Orchestra will be participating and there will be special access to Ernest Bloch’s former home in Agate Beach where some events will be held.
Born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1880 and later making his home in the United States, Bloch gained widespread recognition for music of emotional intensity, spiritual depth, and powerful individuality. He was not only an eminent composer but also one of the most influential teachers of composition of his generation. Among his students were Roger Sessions, George Antheil, Bernard Rogers, Douglas Moore, Randall Thompson, and Quincy Porter, all of whom went on to shape American musical life.
Bloch’s music ranges widely from large-scale orchestral works to chamber, vocal, and instrumental music. Best known, perhaps, for his music on Jewish themes, Bloch also incorporated aspects of Swiss, American, Indigenous American, Chinese and other Asian traditional music as well as Gregorian, Renaissance, neo-classical, neo-romantic, and occasional serial techniques into his works, all resonating with audiences far beyond any single tradition or culture.
Be part of the Bloch 2030 celebrations. The International Ernest Bloch Society (IEBS) is inviting individual musicians, ensembles, orchestras, and presenting organisations to be part of the Bloch 2030 celebrations by letting us know of their Bloch activities.
Blochathon: In the run-up to this exciting milestone in 2030, the International Ernest Bloch Society is setting up the Blochathon with a dedicated YouTube channel and website featuring new and recent recordings of every one of Ernest Bloch’s musical compositions. Artists and ensembles around the world are invited to participate by choosing to perform and record a particular work. Particularly welcome will be performances of Bloch’s lesser-known works, as well as creative approaches that help bring more of his repertoire into circulation.
For ongoing information, please visit www.ernestbloch.org. Inquiries may be directed to events@ernestbloch.org and blochathon@ernestbloch.org
People around the world are engaging with Ernest Bloch. See the Google alerts below for the most recent news.
Ernest Bloch related News
google alerts
- WKAR-TV, WILX-TV 10 and FOX 47 to broadcast Michigan 7th Congressional District Debate
- Sheku Kanneh-Mason Marks 10 Years With Decca Classics With 'Hope In Shadow'
- Caroga Lake ensemble delivers no-froufrou classical to Johnstown - The Daily Gazette
- Composers with a strong mid-European connection on 'This Just In' - WHRO
- Springfield Symphony Orchestra unveils 2026-27 season lineup | WWLP
- Death of a stalwart Met musician - Slippedisc
- BBC Proms 2026 – Beethoven's Ninth & Jessie Montgomery's These Righteous Paths
- World Cup Final 2026 – Chabrier: España - Arcana.fm
- BBC Proms 2026 – The First Night | Arcana.fm
- New music – Justine Perry & Paula Koski: Paired Works (Ostgut Ton) | Arcana.fm
- On this day – the death of Ernest Bloch | Arcana.fm
- New Century Chamber Orchestra Continues to Exceed Expectations in 2026-2027 Season
- For the Record, Op. 390: Sueye Park; cellist Matt Haimovitz - Violinist.com
- When it comes to culture, music is our superpower | The Jewish Chronicle | PressReader
- Lutosławski / Bloch - Queyras, Gimeno (2026) - The Classic Review
Bloch 2030
His 150th Birthday
How To Get Involved
- Join the world-wide 2030 festival with your performance events@ernestbloch.org
- Join the Blochathon with your recording blochathon@ernestbloch.org
- Find out about his music music@ernestbloch.org
- Enquire about Bloch’s photography photography@ernestbloch.org
- General information info@ernestbloch.org
Ken Burns’ newest documentary series The U.S. and the Holocaust [September 18, 2022] starts their credits with “Prayer (From Jewish Life, No. 1)” written by Ernest Bloch.
BBC Music Magazine’s Bloch’s Top 7!
In the BBC Music Magazine’s Classical Music issue of December 2021, critic Alec Evans selects the Seven Greatest Works by Ernest Bloch. We may not agree with his choices, but he’s entitled to them, nevertheless. If the list stimulates listeners to pursue pieces they may not otherwise be aware of, it’s a good thing. His choices (in chronological order) are: Hiver-Printemps, Macbeth,
Twelve-year-old cellist plays ‘Prayer’ by Ernest Bloch – March 14, 2022
Siblings Anouk-Minou and Manoush Ruken Toth dedicate their performance for peace in Ukraine.
The Hand of God, directed by Paolo Sorrentino – 2021
Features “From Jewish Life, B. 55: I. Prayer” composed by Ernest Bloch and performed by Sol Gabetta.
Woman in Gold, directed by Simon Curtis – 2015
Features “Prayer From Jewish Life” composed by Ernest Bloch and performed by Rebecca Jordan.
Where the Green Ants Dream, directed by Werner Herzog – 1984
Features ‘Voice in the wilderness’ by Ernest Bloch.
Past Events
Out of the Wilderness – Rediscovering Ernest Bloch
Sunday 2 November 2014 Many great artists have met the challenges of the power of Ernest Bloch’s music – few more splendidly than the three world renowned musicians that came together, at IEBS’ invitation, in the Recital Hall at the Royal College of Music. See the...
Chamber Concert Wigmore Hall
April 2009 IEBS Chamber Concert Wigmore Hall Goldner Quartet, Piers Lane piano
Launch of the International Ernest Bloch Society
July 2008 As the 50th anniversary of Ernest Bloch’s death in July 1959 approached Dr Alexander Knapp (the noted Bloch scholar and formerly the Joe Loss Lecturer in Jewish Music at SOAS, University of London) brought together a group of people under the auspices...
Bloch Jubilee International Conference
Ernest Bloch: the man and his music for the 21st Century Bloch Jubilee International Conference Fitzwilliam College Cambridge UniversitySunday 29 July – Tuesday 31 July 2007 Key Bloch scholars from around the world presented papers on many aspects of the man...