2026 Summer Festival:
August 10-20
Welcome to the 49th Summer Season this August in Bend & Sunriver, Oregon!
As America celebrates 250 years in 2026, we honor one of its greatest gifts to the world: music. The 49th season, curated by Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell, will feature world-class orchestra musicians and acclaimed soloists performing eclectic works by American composers – Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, William Grant Still, Joan Tower, Kevin Puts, Edgar Meyer and John Williams – alongside favorites by Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Schumann, and Mendelssohn and more.
The Summer Festival opens August 10 at Sunriver Resort’s historic Great Hall and closes August 20 at the iconic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend. Four classical concerts, a pops concert, a family concert and a chamber concert will be presented. Featured artists include pianist Michelle Cann, violinists William Hagen and Tessa Lark, bass-baritone Timothy Jones, and the Central Oregon Mastersingers.
“This summer, America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence, and we’re so pleased to mark the occasion with at least one work by an American composer on every program this season. We’ll feature American classics like Aaron Copland’s ‘Appalachian Spring’ and Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, plus we’ll introduce new favorites by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts and GRAMMY winners Edgar Meyer and Joan Tower. We’ll also bring to life so many of the great European classics we all know and love, including works by Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Bach, Mozart and Schumann.” ~Brett Mitchell
2026 Summer Festival Concert Schedule
led by Artistic Director & Conductor Brett Mitchell
Opening Classical Concert:
Beethoven, Haydn & Made in America
Monday, August 10 at 7:30 PM
Sunriver Resort Great Hall
Festival Orchestra
Brett Mitchell, conductor
Michelle Cann, piano
JOAN TOWER Made in America
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major
HAYDN Symphony No. 101 in D Major, “The Clock”
Trombone Trio
Tuesday, August 11 at 7:30 PM
Sunriver Resort Great Hall
Featuring Festival trombonists Henry Henniger, Wayne Solomon and Steve Suminski
Discover the extraordinary artistry of the trombone trio — an ensemble seldom heard and uniquely compelling. Blending warmth, resonance and remarkable musical range, three trombones together create a sound both majestic and intimate.
Classical Concert II:
America Meets Scotland
Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 PM
Sunriver Resort Great Hall
Festival Orchestra
Brett Mitchell, conductor
William Hagen, violin
STILL Darker America
BARBER Violin Concerto
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, “Scottish”
Family Concert:
Harry Potter & the Instruments of the Orchestra
Friday, August 14 at 4 PM
Meet the Instruments 2:30-3:30
Sunriver SHARC
Festival Orchestra
Brett Mitchell, conductor
This matinee explores the instruments of the orchestra through magnificent music by John Williams, including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Pops Concert:
John Williams & the American Journey
Saturday, August 15 at 7:30 PM
Tower Theatre, Bend
Festival Orchestra
Brett Mitchell, conductor
Central Oregon Mastersingers
Enjoy the Festival Orchestra in a lively program featuring various works by American legend John Williams paired with other masterpieces to explore America’s journey from the Revolutionary War to today.
Classical Concert III:
The Genius of Music
Tuesday, August 18 at 7:30 PM
Tower Theatre, Bend
Festival Orchestra
Brett Mitchell, conductor
Timothy Jones, bass-baritone
KEVIN PUTS Einstein on Mercer Street
J.S. BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major
MOZART Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major
Season Finale Classical Concert:
Appalachia & Spring
Thursday, August 20 at 7:30 PM
Tower Theatre, Bend
Festival Orchestra
Brett Mitchell, conductor
Tessa Lark, violin
COPLAND Suite from Appalachian Spring
EDGAR MEYER Violin Concerto
R. SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, “Spring”
SERIES SAVINGS—10% DISCOUNT
Purchase a full five-concert series of the classical concerts and pops concert and save 10%!
To get the discount, add all 5 concerts to your cart and the discount will be automatically applied. Select “Continue Shopping” to add multiple events to your cart.
Young Listeners’ Guild – Free Concert Tickets
Thanks to the Young Listeners’ Guild fund, a limited number of free tickets are offered to ages 17 and under with the purchase of a regular-priced concert ticket. Call 541.593.1084 to order!
Thank you to our Supporting Foundations and Businesses:
