In November 2008, at Dr. Walter Stamm's suggestion and suport, Dr. Ann Stephenson-Moe organized and presented a concert of Bach's music to a large and enthusiastic audience.

That concert provided the impetus to establish a more formal and ongoing series of concerts of Baroque music. Thus the Sarasota-Manatee Bach Festival, Inc. was founded in 2009 by Dr. Walter Stamm, now chair of the Board of Directors, and artistic co-directors Dr. Ann Stephenson-Moe and Dr. Richard Benedum.