In the spring of 2007, Dr. Lindabeth Binkley was named the new Artistic Director of the Saint Andrew’s Bach Society (SABS).  Dr. Binkley is the first person to succeed Christina Jarvis, Artistic Director since 1996, who created an outstanding chamber music summer concert series at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in the heart of downtown Tucson.  Dr. Binkley, a frequent performer on the series, holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona and is the Principal Oboist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.  Well connected to Tucson's classical music scene and experienced at concert production, she was hand selected by Christina Jarvis to direct the Saint Andrew’s Bach Society, who remarked, “It is time for a new set of eyes, ears and hands to move the SABS Summer Concert Series to the next level.”

Dr. Binkley’s first season as Artistic Director, Summer 2007, included sold out concerts and reached over 1200 chamber music fans.  Performers included the debut of Paloma Winds, a new Tucson based Wind Quintet, TSO Concertmaster Steven Moeckel and his sister, violist Laura Moeckel, and a choral program with members of the Tucson Chamber Artists.  Due to the success of each concert, all musicians were paid more than their contracted agreement.  All of the 2007 SABS summer concerts were professionally recorded and some will be featured in future broadcasts during the Community Concert Series of KUAT-FM Public Radio. 

The 2008 season included the launch of the SABS website and a special celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the St. Andrew's Bach Society entitled Bach Lives! .  This project featured a chamber performance of the Mass in B minor, BWV 232, a unique performance class by TSO Concertmaster Steven Moeckel featuring the solo sonatas, partitas, and suites of J. S. Bach, and other special events.  Filling out the series are concerts by the Renaissance music group Musica Sonora , guitarist Ismael Barajas, and the debut recital of Alexander Lipay, Principal Flute of the TSO. View a video clip about the Mass in B minor ant SABS here .

The SABS continued to grow in 2009, with sold out performances of all 10 Sonatas for Piano & Violin by Steven Moeckel, Concertmaster of the Pheonix Symphony, and pianist Paula Fan, Regents Professor of Music at the University of Arizona.  It also included the commissioning of its first work, Circles of Magic and Dancing for Oboe and Percussion, by  American composerTony Zilincik.  Big plans are ahead for 2010, which includes the presentation of all Six Brandenburg Concertos.

For further information, please send Dr. Binkley a message via the contact page or visit the SABS web page at www.standrewsbach.org.