About the International Ernest Bloch Society
This Society revives the original one set up in London and New York in 1937 which had Albert Einstein as Hon. President and numbered Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir John Barbirolli, Sir Henry Wood, Bruno Walter and Ralph Vaughan Williams amongst its illustrious Vice Presidents. Original officers.
The new International Ernest Bloch Society was established in London in 2008 in time to commemorate in 2009, the 50th anniversary of Ernest Bloch’s death in July 1959. Sir Charles Mackerras was the initial President and since 2012 the Society is honoured to have cellist Steven Isserlis CBE as President, and the new Vice Presidents include contemporary conductors, composers, musicians and the heads of music establishments the world over. Current officers and International partners
Aims and Objectives of the Society
- To promote greater awareness and appreciation of the music of Ernest Bloch
- To encourage performances and recordings of his works
- To highlight listings of his compositions with details of publication
- To highlight online resources of information and scholarly research on Bloch and his work
- To keep members informed of performances and cultural events featuring his life and work
To serve these aims the International Ernest Bloch Society
- Produces a regular printed and web-based Newsletter about Ernest Bloch
- Maintains a website www.ernestblochsociety.org as a portal to internet and other resources
- Supports, with prizes, an annual International Ernest Bloch Music Competition in London
- Encourages performances of Bloch’s music by professional and amateur musicians
- Arranges or participates in study days and lectures, masterclasses and workshops on Bloch and his music at prestigious music institutions throughout the world
If you would like to be associated with the society in any way, please contact us and tell us about your interest and activity regarding the music of Ernest Bloch
History of the International Ernest Bloch Society
In 2006, aware of the approaching 50th anniversary of Bloch’s death in July 1959, the noted Bloch Scholar, Alexander Knapp, brought together Bloch enthusiasts in the UK and across the world who set to work to mark this occasion significantly.
A Committee was established and the first result was an International Conference on Ernest Bloch: the Man and his Music at Cambridge University in 2007 which included top scholars from around the world and members of Ernest Bloch’s family.
Shortly afterwards in 2008 the International Ernest Bloch Society was re-established in London. A Bloch Society had previously been set up in London and New York in 1937 which had Albert Einstein as Hon. President and numbered Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir John Barbirolli, Sir Henry Wood, Bruno Walter and Ralph Vaughan Williams amongst its illustrious Vice Presidents. Sadly this foundered after Bloch’s death. The new Society is proud to have Steven Isserlis as President, and the Committee and Officers include contemporary conductors, scholars, composers, musicians and the heads of music establishments the world over. Partner Bloch organisations were established at the time of the anniversary including one in Israel and one is Switzerland.
In the anniversary year (2009) the Society encouraged and documented performances taking place around the world. The Society presented two chamber concerts at the Wigmore Hall in London.
A web-based and printed newsletter was established in summer 2009. (You can read them all on the newsletters page)
In 2009 the Ernest Bloch Music Competition was created in London, supported by IEBS with prizes and publicity and often performances for the winners.
A programme of Workshops and Masterclasses commenced in November 2014, with world renowned teachers and performers.
A book: Ernest Bloch Studies is in progress for Cambridge University Press.
To know more about Ernest Bloch and his music – and activities of the International Ernest Bloch Society, peruse the pages of this website, contact us to sign up for the Newsletter and join the email forum for Ernest Bloch the man and his music.