Fredericksburg Summer Music Institute

Thanks to a generous donation that is making this event possible, the Fredericksburg Summer Music Institute 2026 will showcase the finest classical musicians from Texas universities in both symphonic and chamber settings, all within the picturesque and welcoming environment of historic Fredericksburg. Our local orchestra members will have the opportunity to perform alongside these world class musicians.

Performance Highlights

The festival will culminate in a grand symphonic concert featuring the Festival Symphony Orchestra at the historic St. Joseph’s Halle on Saturday evening, June 27th. This centerpiece performance will present major works from the classical repertoire, performed by a full symphonic orchestra of exceptional young artists and talented members of our local orchestra under the professional guidance of experienced faculty and conductor.

Throughout the week, audiences will enjoy intimate chamber music concerts featuring various ensembles of faculty and students. These performances will highlight the versatility and artistry of smaller groups, from string quartets to wind ensembles, offering repertoire ranging from Baroque masterworks to contemporary compositions.

Educational and Cultural Impact

Fredericksburg Summer Music Institute 2026 represents more than just a series of concerts—it’s an investment in the next generation of classical musicians and in our community’s cultural vitality. The festival will:

• Elevate local arts programming by bringing high-caliber classical repertoire that is rarely available in smaller communities
• Foster artistic development through mentorship between distinguished faculty and emerging collegiate performers
• Create lasting connections among musicians from different institutions, building a network of artistic collaboration that extends beyond the festival week
• Enrich Fredericksburg’s cultural landscape by integrating world-class performances into the fabric of our community
• Showcase Fredericksburg to visiting musicians, their families, and classical music enthusiasts, introducing them to our town’s unique charm, rich German heritage, thriving arts scene, and renowned hospitality

How You Can Help Make the Fredericksburg Summer Music Institute 2026 a Success

The Fredericksburg community has always been the heart of our cultural success, and we need your support to make this inaugural festival truly memorable.

Host Family Opportunities

We are seeking warm and welcoming host families to provide accommodations for our distinguished faculty members during the festival week. Hosting a professor is a unique opportunity to:

• Form meaningful connections with accomplished musicians and educators
• Gain insider perspectives on classical music and university-level music education
• Share the best of Fredericksburg hospitality
• Play a vital role in making our visiting artists feel at home

Host families will provide a private bedroom and breakfast for one faculty member from June 23-28, 2026. This is a wonderful way to be directly involved in bringing world-class music education to our community.

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

We invite local businesses and corporations to become festival sponsors and demonstrate their commitment to arts and culture in Fredericksburg. Sponsorship benefits include:

• Recognition in all festival marketing materials and programs
• Visibility among festival attendees, families, and music enthusiasts from across Texas
• Association with a prestigious cultural event that elevates Fredericksburg’s profile
• Opportunities for hospitality and client entertainment at exclusive festival events
• Investment in the cultural and economic vitality of our community

Sponsorship packages are available at various levels to accommodate businesses of all sizes.

To learn more about hosting opportunities or corporate sponsorship, please contact: Theresa Britt [email protected] (830) 988-0057 

Welcome to Fredericksburg

We are excited to welcome musicians and music lovers from across Texas and beyond. Fredericksburg offers the perfect backdrop for this festival, combining small-town warmth with sophisticated cultural offerings, historic architecture, award-winning wineries, acclaimed restaurants, and stunning Hill Country scenery. Festival attendees and visitors will experience not only exceptional music but also the distinctive character and genuine hospitality that make our community so special.

Looking Ahead

Fredericksburg MusikFest 2026 promises to be a landmark event for both our town and the participating musicians. We invite the community and visitors to join us in celebrating classical music at its finest and in supporting the talented young artists who represent the future of orchestral and chamber performance.

More details about the complete concert schedule, ticket information, and festival events will be announced in the coming months.

Audition Requirements & Tuition

All applicants must submit a video audition demonstrating technical proficiency and musical maturity appropriate for collegiate-level performance. Audition fee will be $50. If accepted to the festival, tuition will be $450 per student. More details to be announced soon. More details to be announced in January.

About our Festival Conductor

Dr. Fagner Magrinelli Rocha serves as Associate Professor of Music at Angelo State University, where he teaches violin and viola and directs the ASU Symphony Orchestra. Before his tenure at ASU, he served as Assistant Professor of Violin at Universidade Federal de Alagoas in Maceió, Brazil. He also serves as Music Director for the Big Spring Symphony and as concertmaster for both the San Angelo Symphony and Ballet San Angelo Orchestras. His career is marked by a blend of academic excellence, masterful performance, and dedicated leadership in the field of music in West Texas.

Dr. Rocha has appeared as a performer, conductor and clinician in concerts and festivals through South and North America, as well as in Europe. As a violinist, he has performed extensively, both as a soloist and in ensembles, earning accolades for his technical prowess and emotive playing. Dr. Rocha is deeply engaged in music education, frequently conducting Honors, All-Region, and Youth Orchestras, and is a constant figure in Texas public schools. His creative pursuits encompass original compositions, arrangements, and commercial music projects. His most recent project involved composing original music for the ASU Centennial Capital Campaign, titled “Leading the Charge.”

Dr. Rocha performs on a modern 2011 Luiz Amorim violin and holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil) and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Violin Performance from Texas Tech University. He studied conducting with Dr. David Becker at Texas Tech University.

During the summer, he teaches at the Angelo State Music Camp. He resides in San Angelo with his wife, Emilee, and their daughters, Olivia and Emma. Outside of his musical pursuits, he enjoys reading, running, and working on home improvement projects.

About Our Director

Theresa Britt is a versatile violinist and educator based in the Texas Hill Country, where she maintains an active performance career in both orchestral and chamber music settings. She currently serves as a violinist with the Symphony of the Hills in Kerrville, San Angelo Symphony, Ballet San Angelo, and regularly performs with string quartets for special events throughout the region.

Theresa holds a Master of Music degree from Texas Tech University, where she studied violin and violin pedagogy. During her graduate studies, she participated in the International Music Academy in Plzeň, Czech Republic, enriching her artistic perspective through international training.

Her orchestral experience spans numerous ensembles across Texas, including the Mid-Texas Symphony, Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale, and Brazos Valley Symphony. As a chamber musician, she performs with her own Las Colinas String Quartet in the Texas Hill Country and continues to collaborate in various chamber configurations for concerts and private events.

In addition to her performance career, Theresa is a dedicated music educator and advocate for the arts. She serves as Director of the Fredericksburg Community Orchestras, where she works to build and sustain classical music programming in the Hill Country. She also maintains a thriving private studio, teaching violin and cello to students throughout the region.

As a versatile musician, Theresa also performs a variety of musical genres, including Western Swing and Jazz ensembles, and works as an arranger and composer. In 2022, her band performed at Zug Jazz Night in Switzerland, with additional performances in Germany and Austria.

A native of Amarillo, Texas, Theresa began her musical journey in fourth grade through a public school strings program. Her dedication to the violin has taken her from those humble beginnings to concert stages around the world, and she remains committed to sharing the transformative power of music with students and audiences alike.

Or contact Theresa Britt, Director at [email protected] (830) 998-0057