Fredericksburg Music Festival & School ‘AMERICA250’ ‘Music Connects Us’
TexasCellos Returns to Fredericksburg with the Second Annual Fredericksburg Music Festival & School
June 7–21, 2026
WHAT: Presented by Texas Cellos, the festival continues its vision of creating an international
European-style artistic gathering in the heart of Texas wine country — combining world-class
music making with the intimacy, atmosphere, and cultural character of Fredericksburg.
WHERE: Across fifteen days, the festival will present thirteen concerts and public events at
historic venues throughout the region, including Becker Vineyards, Marienkirche at St. Mary’s Church, Altstadt Brewery, St Joseph’s Halle, and the Historic Nimitz Ballroom.
“The festival is built around the idea of evenings of music, wine, conversation, and artistic
exchange,” said founder and creative director Joseph Kuipers. “We wanted to create something immersive and human — a place where audiences encounter great artists up close, where students and faculty work side by side, and where the atmosphere itself becomes part of the
artistic experience.”
WHO: This season welcomes 81 registered students alongside an internationally recognized faculty representing many of the leading voices in today’s cello world.
WHEN: Festival Highlights
Opening Gala at Becker Vineyards
June 7, 2026
The festival opens among the vineyards and lavender fields of Becker Vineyards with an evening
of music, wine, and celebration featuring faculty artists and festival participants.
“Cello Duello”
June 13, 2026 | Historic Nimitz Ballroom
Acclaimed German cellists Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt present their
internationally celebrated duo project Cello Duello in a rare Texas appearance, followed by a
courtyard wine reception and artist gathering.
Instrument Exhibition & Symposium
June 13–14, 2026
A public exhibition featuring fine cellos and violins from leading contemporary makers,
alongside discussions and presentations devoted to craftsmanship, sound, and restoration.
Bach & Bordeaux
June 20, 2026 | Becker Vineyards Lavender House
Young artists of the festival perform selections from the Six Suites for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach in
an informal rotating concert format designed to blend music with the relaxed atmosphere of the
vineyard.
80Cellos ‘AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL’
June 21, 2026 | Altstadt Brewery
The festival concludes with a large-scale cello celebration featuring faculty and students
performing together in an open European-style workshop and concert environment.
WHO: International Faculty & Artists
The 2026 faculty includes internationally renowned performers and pedagogues from leading
conservatories and concert stages around the world, including:
• Richard Aaron — San Francisco Conservatory of Music
• Jens Peter Maintz — Berlin University of the Arts & Escuela Superior de Música Reina
Sofía
• Clive Greensmith — Colburn School; former cellist of the Tokyo Quartet
• Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt — Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, Berlin
University of the Arts & Kronberg Academy
• Lluís Claret — international soloist and pedagogue
• Valentin Radutiu — Principal Cellist of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and
Professor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music
• Scott Tixier — six-time Grammy Award-winning artist
• Joseph Kuipers — founder and creative director of the festival
Programs throughout the festival will range from Spanish and Eastern European repertoire to
Bach, chamber music, contemporary works, and genre-crossing collaborations.
Tickets & Information
Complete schedule, artist information, and ticket links are available at:
Fredericksburg Music Festival & School Schedule
About TexasCellos
Founded in Dallas in 2020, Texas Cellos is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering
meaningful encounters between artists and audiences through concerts, educational programs,
festivals, and community engagement initiatives across Texas and beyond.
The festival runs every day through the final 80CELLOS ‘AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL’ concert on June 21 at 4:00 pm.
