INTERSECTIONS: MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM FEATURING BOYD MEETS GIRL
2026-02-11 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | Steamboat Art Museum, 807 Lincoln Ave.
This event is free to the community!
Join us at the Steamboat Art Museum for a performance from Boyd Meets Girl as a part of our 2026 Intersections: Music at the Museum series presented by Strings Music Festival and the Steamboat Art Museum. Doors open at 5:30pm; music begins at 6:00pm, followed by a Q&A with the artists at 6:45pm. These free events are open to music lovers of all ages!
Boyd Meets Girl pairs Australian classical guitarist Rupert Boyd with American cellist Laura Metcalf. The duo has toured the world sharing their eclectic mix of music from Debussy and Bach to Radiohead and Beyoncé, and their two studio albums have received over 4 million streams on Spotify.
Both acclaimed soloists in their own right, Boyd has been described as “truly evocative” by The Washington Post, and as “a player who deserves to be heard” by Classical Guitar Magazine, while Metcalf, who has also toured as a member of the popular chamber ensembles Eighth Blackbird, Break of Reality and Sybarite5, has been called “brilliant” by Gramophone.

JOHN CRAIGIE
2026-02-15 19:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $46
With opening support from Colorado native singer-songwriter Jobi Riccio.
John Craigie has mastered the art of creating live shows that feel more like intimate conversations than performances. Infusing humor, wit, and poignant storytelling, his shows are a space where audience members feel like old friends. Whether he’s headlining solo or sharing the stage with longtime collaborators, Craigie’s ability to make his crowd laugh, reflect, and connect is second to none.
His catalog has continued to reel in tens of millions of streams fueled by favorites such as “I Am California,” “Highway Blood,” “Don’t Ask,” and “Microdose.” Maintaining a prolific pace, 2024’s album Pagan Church saw him join forces with TK & The Holy Know-Nothings. Among many highlights, it logged six weeks at No. 1 on the Americana Radio Albums Chart.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin October 16 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public October 24 at 10:00AM MDT.

STRINGS SCHOOL DAYS WITH FINNEGAN BLUE
2026-02-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Free Community Event!
Join us in supporting Routt County students from the Steamboat Springs High School Concert Band and Steamboat Springs High School Jazz Band as the next generation of musicians takes center stage. At this special Strings School Days event, local students showcase the skills they’ve developed through hands-on instruction and perform alongside Finnegan Blue, a San Diego–based folk band blending Celtic traditions, bluegrass, and second line rhythms with a punk rock edge. This free event is open to music lovers of all ages.
About Strings School Days:
Strings School Days is a unique music and arts education program provided by Strings Music Festival at no cost to schools, students, or teachers. Annually, the program serves over 3,500 pre-K through 12th grade students in 19 schools throughout the Yampa Valley. The program provides an opportunity for local students to learn from, rehearse with, and perform alongside world-renowned, professional musicians. Through this program, Strings aims for students to appreciate diverse cultures, develop a broader worldview, and move forward with confidence as arts supporters into their adult lives.
About the Mentor:
Finnegan Blue is a high-energy, family-rooted folk band blending Celtic traditions, bluegrass drive, and New Orleans–style second line grooves with a punk rock spirit. Led by sibling songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Anna Lee Fleming and Willie Fleming, the band’s sound is both timeless and contemporary, shaped by generations of musical influence and a belief that music is meant to be shared.
Known for their dynamic live performances, Finnegan Blue emphasizes improvisation, collaboration, and joyful connection. By “stretching” songs in performance and drawing on marching band–inspired second line jazz, the band creates music filled with peaks and valleys, inviting audiences and young musicians alike to explore rhythm, groove, and creative expression in an open, welcoming way.

INTERSECTIONS: MUSIC AT THE MUSEUM FEATURING JI SU JUNG
2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Steamboat Art Museum, 807 Lincoln Ave.
This event is free to the community!
Join us at the Steamboat Art Museum for a performance from Ji Su Jung as a part of our 2026 Intersections: Music at the Museum series presented by Strings Music Festival and the Steamboat Art Museum. Doors open at 5:30pm; music begins at 6:00pm, followed by a Q&A with the artists at 6:45pm. These free events are open to music lovers of all ages!
The first solo percussionist to receive the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Ji Su Jung has a distinctive musical voice instantly recognizable for its depth and lyricism. Born in South Korea, Jung began studying marimba at age three, a rarity among percussionists. Since launching her solo career, she has performed concertos with leading orchestras and conductors, including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Marin Alsop, the Houston Symphony with Daniel Hege, the Colorado Symphony and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra with Peter Oundjian, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic with JoAnn Falletta, the Sarasota Orchestra with Giancarlo Guerrero, and the Milwaukee Symphony with Ryan Tani. She was featured as a soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony as part of the 2024 Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
In addition to receiving the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2022, she is a previous recipient of first prize and the audience choice award at the Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg Competition, as well as a top prize at the International Marimba Competition in Linz, Austria. She also appeared as a young artist in residence on American Public Media’s nationally broadcast program Performance Today, hosted by Fred Child.

DAVID KOECHNER
2026-03-06 19:00 - 21:30 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $41
Actor, writer, and producer David Koechner is well-known for his roles as Todd Packer on The Office and Champ Kind from Anchorman and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. An alumnus of Chicago’s Second City Theater, Koechner got his first break as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and has since become an instantly recognizable face, appearing in more than 200 films and television shows. When not filming, Koechner performs live comedy across the country and creates original content videos for his YouTube channel, Full On Koechner.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin October 16 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public October 24 at 10:00AM MDT.

YACHT ROCK REVUE - YACHT ROCK FOREVER TOUR
2026-03-07 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $75
Embark on a journey through radiant musical waters with Yacht Rock Revue, the band Rolling Stone hails as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band.” From humble beginnings in a basement in 2007 to sharing stages with legends like Robbie Dupree, Elliot Lurie, Matthew Wilder, John Oates, and the late Eddie Money, Yacht Rock Revue has transformed what was once considered a guilty pleasure into a thriving, respected art form.
Their original concept album, Escape Artist, released in 2024, marked a major milestone for the band as their first release of original music since Hot Dads In Tight Jeans. Their live shows remain unabashedly joyous affairs, praised by The New York Times for their liberating energy and by Entertainment Weekly for their ability to turn any venue into a sea of dancing fans. So, don your captain’s hat and set sail with Yacht Rock Revue for a melodic adventure like no other.
While this is a ticketed, seated performance, don’t be surprised if the Pavilion turns into a full-blown soft-rock dance party—when Yacht Rock Revue hits those smooth ’70s and ’80s classics, we expect even the most devoted seat-holders to find themselves on their feet.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin October 16 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public October 24 at 10:00AM MDT.

TRAE CROWDER
2026-03-15 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $52.
Trae Crowder first gained international attention (or notoriety, depending on your politics) in 2016 for his hugely viral series of “Liberal Redneck” comedic “porch rant” videos. Since then, Crowder has written the best-selling book The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin’ Dixie Outta the Dark; toured the country three times, playing sold-out theater shows under the WellRED Comedy Tour banner; and appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO), Nightline (ABC), The View, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC), NPR, WTF with Marc Maron, MTV, CNN, Huffington Post, and in the Veronica Mars reboot as “Chattanooga Charlie,” among many others.
Originally from rural Celina, Tennessee, Crowder now lives in Los Angeles and has developed and sold five scripted pilots for Warner Bros. TV, ABC, and FOX. He continues to work as a writer, starring in and producing regular sketches for Comedy Central, Funny or Die, ATTN:, Facebook Watch, and New York Daily News, which have garnered tens of millions of views online. He also co-wrote and produced the hour-long documentary Inherent Good, featuring Crowder and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, about universal basic income.
18+ recommended

*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin October 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public October 31 at 10:00AM MDT.

THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS - SHINE DELIGHT TOUR 2026
2026-03-18 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $58 advance, $64 day of show
**This is a general admission, standing only show. All chairs will be removed.
Formed in the subway systems of Oakland, retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops is an electrifying group that defies convention at every turn. Led by the charismatic and energetic frontman Lech Wierzynski and percussionist Benjamin Malament, each member of the band is a virtuoso in their own right. What truly sets the Honeydrops apart is their unwavering commitment to the art of improvisation, ensuring no two shows are ever the same. Their latest album, Redwood Highway, was released in August, 2025.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales began November 11 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public November 14 at 10:00AM MDT.

EDDIE 9V
2026-03-22 19:00 - 21:30 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $75
From the day he first slung a guitar on a local Georgia stage, Eddie 9V (born Brooks Mason) has been an artist to watch. First cutting his teeth in cover bands and regional blues circuits, he made the leap to full-time frontman with a name that couldn’t be ignored. He has an endless stockpile of cool stories—and you’ll find twelve of them on his most recent studio album Saratoga. A thrilling mix of Southern soul, blues, rock, and funk, the album became a major career milestone: Eddie 9V’s soulful sound began reaching hundreds of thousands of new fans across the globe.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin October 16 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public October 24 at 10:00AM MDT.

STRINGS SCHOOL DAYS WITH GREG WARD AND MATT GOLD
2026-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Free Community Event!
Join us in supporting Routt County students from the Steamboat Middle School 7th Grade and 8th Grade Bands, and Steamboat Mountain School 5th-8th Grade Orchestra as the next generation of musicians takes center stage. At this special Strings School Days event, local students showcase the skills they’ve developed through hands-on instruction and perform alongside Greg Ward, a critically acclaimed saxophonist and composer, and Matt Gold, a Chicago-based guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer.

About Strings School Days:
Strings School Days is a unique music and arts education program provided by Strings Music Festival at no cost to schools, students, or teachers. Annually, the program serves over 3,500 pre-K through 12th grade students in 19 schools throughout the Yampa Valley. The program provides an opportunity for local students to learn from, rehearse with, and perform alongside world-renowned, professional musicians. Through this program, Strings aims for students to appreciate diverse cultures, develop a broader worldview, and move forward with confidence as arts supporters into their adult lives.
About the Mentors:
Matt Gold is a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer based in Chicago, Illinois. His work draws from diverse traditions of electric and acoustic music. Gold has performed across six continents and contributed to more than fifty recordings as a collaborator and instrumentalist, garnering critical praise from Pitchfork for playing “one of the most exhilarating guitar solos of recent memory, in any genre.”
Greg Ward is a critically acclaimed saxophonist and composer known for his dynamic voice in contemporary jazz. A versatile performer, he has collaborated with artists across jazz, classical, and experimental music, including Makaya McCraven, Linda May Han Oh, and the International Contemporary Ensemble. His work reflects a deep understanding of jazz tradition while pushing creative boundaries, often incorporating elements of rock, soul, and chamber music.

AMERICA AT 250: CENTURIES OF SOUND
2026-06-27 19:00 - 22:00
Starts at $46.

America at 250: Centuries of Sound
Opening Night Orchestra celebrating pivotal moments in Western music
Strings Music Festival’s Season 39 classical series opens with a vibrant program tracing two and a half centuries of Western music evolution. Michael Sachs conducts a distinguished orchestra featuring concertmaster Nurit Bar-Josef. The performance includes Carl Stamitz’s Orchestral Quartet of 1776, Beethoven’s final String Quartet from 1826, Dvořák’s radiant Serenade for Strings from 1876, and Barber’s lyrical Serenade, written in 1928.
Program Preview
Carl Stamitz Orchestral Quartet in C Major, Op. 14 No. 1
(1745–1801)
Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet in F Major, No. 16, Op. 135
(1770–1827)
INTERMISSION
Samuel Barber Serenade for Strings, Op. 1, III. Dance
(1910–1981)
Charlie Chaplin Smile from Modern Times
(1889–1977)
Antonín Dvořák Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22
(1841–1904)
Please join us after the show for a complimentary champagne reception!
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

THE WALLFLOWERS: 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR FOR BRINGING DOWN THE HORSE
2026-06-28 19:00
Starts at $95.
**This is a general admission, standing only show. All chairs will be removed.
With Opening Support from Early James.
The Wallflowers will mark the 30th anniversary of their landmark album Bringing Down the Horse with a nationwide US tour. The Grammy Award-winning band will perform their classic album in its entirety, in sequence. Originally released on May 21, 1996, Bringing Down the Horse was a critical and commercial triumph. The album peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified quadruple platinum, cementing the band’s place in ’90s rock history.
Influenced by a slew of first-generation American songwriters, including The Band and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Wallflowers will also pay tribute on the upcoming tour to the 50th anniversary of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers by playing Petty’s 1982 album Long After Dark in its entirety and in sequence as well.
Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 27 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public January 30 at 10:00AM MDT.

BLUEGRASS AND BEYOND
2026-07-01 19:00 - 21:00
Starts at $35.

Bluegrass and Beyond
The modern American string quartet
Exploring the evolution of the modern string quartet, this program brings together two compelling works by living composers: Philip Glass’ hypnotic and influential String Quartet No. 5 and Mark O’Connor’s genre-crossing String Quartet No. 2 “Bluegrass”, which fuses classical structure with the rhythmic drive and spirit of American roots music. Glass creates a luminous, ever-shifting soundscape, while O’Connor draws on folk traditions to reimagine the quartet through a distinctly American lens. Featuring Nurit Bar-Josef, Milana Reiche, Erina Laraby Goldwasser, and Austin Fisher, the ensemble brings these contrasting visions to life with clarity, nuance, and expressive depth.
Program Preview
Philip Glass String Quartet No. 5
(b. 1937)
INTERMISSION
Mark O’Connor String Quartet No. 2 “Bluegrass”
(b. 1961)
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

AMERICAN ROOTS
2026-07-03 19:00 - 21:00
Starts at $46.
American Roots
The Evolution of Folk featuring Mark and Maggie O’Connor

Grammy Award–winning Mark and Maggie O’Connor headline a Strings Music Festival ensemble in Strings and Threads Suite, a vibrant exploration of how American folk music has grown, blended, and reinvented itself over time. The performance weaves together fiddle traditions, classical technique, and fresh rhythmic energy. Joined by Vijay Gupta, Ellen Pendleton, Erina Laraby Goldwasser, Tanya Ell, Leigh Mesh, Elizabeth Dorman, and Michael Sachs, the ensemble showcases the history, breadth, and spirit of America’s folk lineage.

Program Preview

Mark O’Connor Strings and Threads Suite
(b. 1961)

Mark Summer / Brave Wolfe
(b. 1958)
Mark O’Connor
(b. 1961)

*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.
2026-07-11 19:00 - 21:00
Starts at $41.
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Silent film with live music by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra

Step back into the golden age of cinema for a screening of Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928), Buster Keaton’s beloved silent-film comedy, presented with live musical accompaniment by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra.
Hailed as the world’s only year-round professional ensemble dedicated to re-creating the sounds of early musical theater, silent cinema, and vintage dance, the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra brings the film to life with period-authentic music performed in real time.
Released by United Artists, Steamboat Bill, Jr. was the final film produced by Keaton’s independent production team and features his signature blend of physical comedy, precise timing, and daring stunts. Directed by Charles Reisner and inspired by the popular song “Steamboat Bill,” the film culminates in one of cinema’s most iconic moments — Keaton standing perfectly still as the façade of a collapsing house falls harmlessly around him.
This rare pairing of classic film and live orchestral performance offers a vivid, immersive experience, a must-see for film lovers, music enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the origins of movie magic.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

AEOLUS QUARTET
2026-07-15 19:00 - 21:00
Pay-What-You-Can Performance
Aeolus Quartet
Masterworks and new voices for String Quartet
Acclaimed for performances of both “high-octane” excitement (Strad) and “dusky lyricism” (The New York Times), the Aeolus Quartet has earned prizes at nearly every major chamber music competition in the United States and is currently Quartet-in-Residence at Musica Viva NY. Formed in 2008 and featured on the Netflix miniseries The Defenders, the ensemble comprises violinists Isabelle Durrenberger and Rachel Shapiro, violist Caitlin Lynch, and cellist Jia Kim. The quartet has performed across North America, Europe, and Asia in venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Reinberger Recital Hall at Severance Hall, the Library of Congress, Renwick Gallery, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

TIG NOTARO: OUT OF NOWHERE!
2026-07-17 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $75.
Tig Notaro is an Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar Award–nominated stand-up comedian, actor, writer, podcaster, and radio contributor, and a frequent guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Rolling Stone named her one of the “50 best stand-up comics of all time.”
Her stand-up special Tig Notaro: Hello Again premiered in March 2024 on Amazon and garnered multiple Emmy Award nominations.
Notaro appears in The Morning Show (Apple TV), Star Trek: Discovery, and the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount+), as well as the films Your Place or Mine, We Have a Ghost, and Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead.
She wrote and starred in the television series One Mississippi and co-directed the GLAAD-nominated feature film Am I OK?, which debuted at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on HBO Max in 2024.
Notaro hosts the podcast Handsome with Fortune Feimster and Mae Martin and is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir I’m Just a Person. She also produced the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, winner of the Festival Favorite Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 26 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public January 30 at 10:00AM MDT.

COUNTERPOINT: A PIANO AND TAP DANCE DUO
2026-07-22 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $46.
Counterpoint
A piano and tap dance duo with Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher
Counterpoint brings together pianist and composer Conrad Tao and acclaimed tap dancer and choreographer Caleb Teicher in a continuous dialogue between music and movement. Throughout the program, piano and tap dance are fully integrated, with each work conceived and performed as a true collaboration. Together, Tao and Teicher explore rhythm, structure, and improvisation, revealing a shared musical language between sound and motion.
Spanning a wide stylistic range, the program draws on the elegance of Bach’s Aria from the Goldberg Variations, alongside the lyricism of Brahms and Mozart—reimagined through this collaborative lens. Original works and improvisations by Tao and Teicher highlight the percussive power of the human body as an instrument, including selections from their acclaimed work More Forever, praised by The New York Times for “constantly extending the sonic aspects of dance.”
Program Preview
Johann Sebastian Bach Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
(1685–1750)
Arnold Schoenberg Fünf Klavierstücke, Op. 23: V. Walzer
(1874–1951)
Ray Noble Cherokee
1903–1978) /Art Tatum
(1909–1956) /Bud Powell
(1924–1966)
Charles “Honi” Coles The Coles and Bufalino Soft Shoe
(1911–1992) /Brenda Bufalino
(b. 1937)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Song and Dance, based on Allegretto “Alla turca” from
(1756–1791) / Sonata in A major, K. 331David Parker
(b. 1953)
Conrad Tao Swing 2 from More Forever
(b. 1994) /
Caleb Teicher
(b. 1993)
George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue (arr. for solo piano)
(1898–1937)
Maurice Ravel Mouvement de menuet from Sonatine in F-sharp minor
(1875–1937)
Johann Sebastian Bach Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

STEVE EARLE: 51 YEARS OF SONGS AND STORIES
2026-07-24 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $81.
Actor, writer, radio show host, and Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation. A protégé of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others. In 1986, he released Guitar Town, which reached number one on the country charts and is now regarded as a classic of the Americana genre.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin April 22 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public May 1 at 10:00AM MDT.

CAFE 1930s: JAZZ, TANGO, AND CABARET
2026-07-25 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $41.
Café 1930s: Jazz, Tango, and Cabaret
Featuring Chee-Yun, Brian McWhorter, and Mark Gould
A Strings Music Festival ensemble traces the vibrant, jazz-infused soundscape of interwar cafés and cabarets around the world. From American jazz clubs and vaudeville stages to the cabarets of Berlin, the tango cafés of Buenos Aires, and London’s avant-garde salons, the program captures a moment when classical, popular, and theatrical traditions collided.
Works by Paul Schoenfield and Zez Confrey evoke the wit and sparkle of American café culture, while Kurt Weill’s iconic “Mack the Knife” and Astor Piazzolla’s sultry Café 1930 reflect the era’s international spirit and artistic daring. The evening culminates in William Walton’s theatrical Façade, conducted by Mark Gould and featuring narration by Brian McWhorter, bringing to life the humor, edge, and cosmopolitan flair of a world in motion.
Enhancing the café ambiance, ticket buyers may choose seating at café-style high-top tables, creating a relaxed, jazz-club–inspired setting that adds to the uniqueness of this performance.
Program Preview
Astor Piazzolla Café 1930 from Histoire du tango
(1921–1992)
Zez Confrey Kitten on the Keys
(1895–1971)
Kurt Weill “Mack the Knife” from The Threepenny Opera
(1900–1950)

Paul Schoenfield Café Music
(1947–2024)
INTERMISSION
William Walton Façade
(1902–1983)

Mark Gould, Conductor (Façade)
Brian McWhorter, Narration (Façade)
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

PARISIAN COLORS
2026-07-29 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $35.
Parisian Colors
A small-ensemble concert featuring piano, strings, and flute
Be transported to turn-of-the-century Paris in a program that reveals the lyricism, clarity, and artistry of French chamber music. Boulanger, Ibert, Poulenc, and Ravel each offer a distinct musical palette—from the intimacy of Jacques Ibert’s Piece pour flûte seule to the to the shimmering motion of Une barque sur l’océan, the charm of Poulenc’s sonata, and the dramatic sweep of Ravel’s Piano Trio. Chee-Yun, Karissa Shivone, Benjamin Hochman, and featured flutist Jennifer Steele brings these works to life with nuance, color, and expressive warmth.
Program Preview
Jacques Ibert Pièce pour flûte seule
(1890–1962)

Maurice Ravel Une barque sur l’océan
(1875–1937)
Francis Poulenc Sonata for Flute
(1899–1963)
INTERMISSION
Lili Boulanger Nocturne
(1893–1918)
Maurice Ravel Piano Trio in A minor
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS
2026-07-31 19:00 - 22:00
Starts at $75 advanced, $81 day of show.
**This is a general admission, standing only show. All chairs will be removed.
Over the past year, multi-platinum-selling soul-pop outfit Fitz and The Tantrums wrote and recorded their forthcoming sixth studio album, Man On The Moon (due on July 25 via Atlantic Records). The result is the band’s most daring album yet—a no-nonsense collection of soulful, pop-infected masterpieces that both thrill and engross listeners in equal measure. It’s the sound of a band—which includes co-lead vocalist Noelle Scaggs, bassist Joseph Karnes, multi-instrumentalist James King, and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna—that knows its signature sound but is willing to take it in new, bold directions.
Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 27 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public January 30 at 10:00AM MDT.

BRASS THROUGH THE AGES
2026-08-01 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $46.
Brass Through the Ages
From Renaissance masters to Bach, Debussy, Britten, and Böhme
Journey through five centuries of brass music in a program that highlights the ensemble’s remarkable versatility and expressive range. Renaissance dances, Bach’s Contrapunctus I, Debussy’s Trois Chansons, and works by Ewald, Britten, and Böhme reveal how composers across eras have shaped the brass family’s distinctive voice. Michael Sachs leads an all-star brass ensemble of principal players from the New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, San Francisco Ballet and Opera Orchestra, and the American Brass Quintet in a vibrant, richly textured performance.
Program Preview
Johann Sebastian Bach Contrapunctus I from The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080
(1685-1750)
Claude Debussy Trois Chansons de Charles d’Orléans
(1862-1918)
Victor Ewald Brass Quintet No. 3 in D-flat major, Op. 7
(1860-1935)
INTERMISSION
Benjamin Britten Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury
(1913-1976)
Oskar Böhme Brass Sextet in E-flat minor, Op. 30
(1870-1937)
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

CAT POWER: THE GREATEST TOUR
2026-08-04 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $81.
Cat Power celebrates the 20th anniversary of her landmark 2006 album The Greatest with Redux, a three-song EP honoring the record that marked a defining moment in her career. In 2026, she and her band will perform The Greatest in its entirety on a special 20th anniversary tour, bringing the album’s signature Southern soul and understated power to the stage.

*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin April 22 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public May 1 at 10:00AM MDT.

CINEMATIC STRINGS: AN ODE TO THE SILVER SCREEN
2026-08-05 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $41.
Cinematic Strings: An Ode to the Silver Screen
Iconic film scores come to life through piano and strings
This program brings together unforgettable themes, and virtuosic chamber works that shaped the sound of cinema.
You’ll instantly recognize Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, famously featured in Who Framed Roger Rabbit and long associated with classic Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry cartoons, where it underscored fast-paced comedy and animated chaos. One of cinema’s most enduring love themes follows in Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Variation 18), memorably heard in Somewhere in Time, Groundhog Day, and Sabrina.
The emotional centerpiece features music from Schindler’s List, whose haunting violin theme remains one of the most powerful and recognizable scores in film history. The evening concludes with a sweeping piano quintet by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, an early-20th-century Academy Award–winning composer whose lush symphonic language became the foundation of Hollywood’s classic film scores.
Program Preview
Johannes Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5
(1833-1897)
Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Variation 18)
(1873-1943)
John Williams Schindler’s List
(b. 1932)
Johannes Brahms Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 39, No. 15
Franz Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor
(1811-1886)
INTERMISSION
Erich Wolfgang Korngold Piano Quintet in E Major, Op. 15
(1897-1957)
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

BAROQUE BRILLIANCE: AN ORCHESTRAL FINALE
2026-08-08 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $64.
Baroque Brilliance: An Orchestral Finale
Celebrating Bach, Handel, and Purcell
An orchestral celebration of the dynamic sound world shaped by Bach, Handel, and Purcell. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos frame the program with virtuosic brilliance, while Purcell’s Abdelazer Suite and Handel’s Concerto Grosso in D Major reveal the elegance, invention, and expressive spark that define the era. With concertmaster Amy Lee leading a distinguished Strings Music Festival ensemble that includes flute, oboe, trumpet, and harpsichord, the performance offers a vibrant orchestral finale rich in color and texture.
Program Preview
Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
(1685 – 1750)

Henry Purcell Suite from Abdelazer
(1659 – 1695)

INTERMISSION
George Frideric Handel Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6, No. 5
(1685 – 1759)
Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

CLIBURN SILVER MEDAL WINNER: VITALY STARIKOV SOLO PIANO RECITAL
2026-08-12 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $41.
Cliburn Silver Medal Winner
Vitaly Starikov Solo Piano Recital
Russian/Israeli pianist Vitaly Starikov has earned distinction for performances described as “raw, deeply felt, and powerful” (La Scena), paired with an unassuming onstage presence. His bold approach won him the Silver Medal at the 2025 Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the admiration of audiences around the globe. Vitaly’s musical perspective is reflected in his repertoire, which embraces both tradition and contemporary life. He strives to offer fresh perspectives on familiar works while introducing lesser-known pieces to wider audiences. His Cliburn performance of Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto electrified the hall, with a La Scena reviewer noting that “he understood this music, and gave an impactful, lively, and gripping interpretation on all levels: emotionally, architecturally, and in terms of his sound palette.”
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, established in 1962, has long been revered as a launching pad for exceptional pianistic talent. Held every four years in Fort Worth, Texas, the 2025 edition took place from May 21 to June 7.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin January 28 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public February 11 at 10:00AM MDT.

LITTLE FEAT: THE LAST FAREWELL TOUR
2026-08-18 19:00 - 22:00 | Strings Music Pavilion, 950 Strings Road
Starts at $179.
Little Feat began in 1969 when Frank Zappa told Lowell George he should start his own band. As Lowell happened to have a pretty small shoe size, the name became obvious. He found a partner/keyboard player in Bill Payne and a drummer in Richie Hayward. That 56-year journey has produced dozens of songs—“Dixie Chicken,” “Oh, Atlanta,” “Willin’,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub”—and a thousand memories. One result was one of the best live albums in the history of rock ‘n roll, Waiting for Columbus. Their inimitable blend of rock, New Orleans swamp boogie, jazz, and blues is not only unique but an ongoing source of delight.
*Donors of $500 or more to the 2026 Annual Fund receive presale access. Donor presales begin April 22 at 10:00AM MDT. On sale to the public May 1 at 10:00AM MDT.
