FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Wm. Buck Moore
Executive Director, Victoria Bach Festival
(361) 570-5788
buck@victoriabachfestival.org
www.victoriabachfestival.org
Fantastical Music, Right Here at Home: Victoria Bach Festival Returns for 51st Season
Weeklong Celebration of Music, Imagination, and Storytelling Set for May 30 – June 6, 2026
Victoria, Texas – Music that transports, transforms, and tells unforgettable stories takes center stage in Victoria this summer as the Victoria Bach Festival returns for its 51st season, May 30 – June 6, 2026.
This year’s theme, Fantastical Music, invites audiences into a world of dreams, myths, and imagination—where storytelling and sound collide in powerful and unexpected ways. From intimate chamber works to sweeping orchestral masterpieces, the 2026 season promises an unforgettable artistic journey right here in the Crossroads.
Wm. Buck Moore, VBF Executive Director, shared, “The Victoria Bach Festival continues to be a celebration of both world-class music and the incredible community that supports it. Each year, we’re proud to bring internationally acclaimed artists to local stages, creating meaningful cultural experiences close to home.”
Led by Artistic Director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, the Festival showcases orchestral, choral, and chamber performances that span centuries of music—from the brilliance of Johann Sebastian Bach to bold, modern works that push creative boundaries.
“It is my great pleasure to invite you to the 2026 Victoria Bach Festival—a season devoted to the fantastical power of music to transport, transform, and illuminate,” said Hernandez-Valdez. “Across these days, you will encounter music that whispers, dances, dreams, and astonishes.”
Moore encourages those interested in attending to explore the full schedule and purchase tickets at victoriabachfestival.org.
2026 Victoria Bach Festival Schedule Highlights
DUO AYA – Goliad
Saturday, May 30 | 7:30 PM
Our Lady of Loreto Chapel, Presidio La Bahía, Goliad
Tickets: $30–$50
An electrifying performance by Duo AYA—featuring Makana Jimbu (marimba) and Rachel Woolf (flute)—blends vibrant global influences with virtuosic artistry, creating colorful and immersive soundscapes.
DUO AYA – Rockport
Sunday, May 31 | 3:00 PM
Rockport Center for the Arts, Rockport
Tickets starting at $50
Duo AYA—Makana Jimbu (marimba) and Rachel Woolf (flute)—bring their dynamic and engaging program to the coast in a stunning coastal setting.
BAROQUE ENSEMBLE: La Notte and Beyond
Tuesday, June 2 | 7:30 PM
First Presbyterian Church, Victoria
Tickets: $30–$50
Led by Christopher Haritatos, this program explores the expressive depth of the Baroque era through works by Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Locatelli, and Handel, blending drama, elegance, and storytelling.
ANTON NEL: Into the Labyrinth
Wednesday, June 3 | 7:30 PM
Trinity Episcopal Church, Victoria
Tickets: $20–$50
Internationally acclaimed pianist Anton Nel presents a captivating journey through works by Haydn, Schubert, Scriabin, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin.
ANGELS & DRAGONS
Thursday, June 4 | 7:30 PM
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Victoria
Tickets: $50
A powerful program for choir and orchestra featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Christoph Bach, filled with dramatic intensity and spiritual grandeur.
VAMP VOCALS
Friday, June 5 | 7:30 PM
Trinity Episcopal Church, Victoria
Tickets: $20–$50
The all-female ensemble VAMP Vocals delivers a vibrant blend of classical, jazz, folk, and contemporary styles with energy and precision.
FESTIVAL FINALE: SPELLBOUND
Saturday, June 6 | 7:30 PM
Victoria Fine Arts Center
Tickets: $20–$50
Featuring the Festival Orchestra and pianist Anton Nel, this thrilling finale includes Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.
Free and Community Concerts
In addition to evening performances, the Festival offers a series of free morning and pay-what-you-can noon concerts throughout the week in Victoria, providing accessible opportunities for all to experience live music.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
A Sonic Dreamscape
9:00 AM | St. Mary’s Activity Center, Victoria Featuring Rachel Woolf (flute), Elaine Barber (harp), Vincent Marks (viola), and Faith DeBow (piano), this program explores the shimmering textures of early 20th-century works by Ravel, Debussy, and Crumb.
Dance with the Shadow
Noon | First United Methodist Church, Victoria
Performed by Chris Whitley (violin), Abigail Bellorin (violin), Luis Eduardo Bellorin (viola), and Anna Park (cello), this dramatic string quartet program features Turina and Schubert.
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
Mythic Whispers
9:00 AM | St. Mary’s Activity Center, Victoria
Featuring Maria Lin (violin), Barbara George (cello), and Michelle Schumann (piano) performing Brahms’s Piano Quartet in A Major.
Emerging Artists
Noon | First United Methodist Church, Victoria
Featuring Rachel Kobernick (soprano) and Joohyun Grace Kim (mezzo-soprano), showcasing rising vocal talent.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5
Dreaming in Silence
9:00 AM | St. Mary’s Activity Center, Victoria
Featuring Vanguel Tangarov (clarinet), Abigail Bellorin (violin), and Ekaterina Tangarov (piano) in an expressive chamber program.
Visions in the Dark
Noon | First United Methodist Church, Victoria
Organist Renée Anne Louprette performs an all-Johann Sebastian Bach program. This concert is dedicated to the memory of Gary Childress.
Morning concerts are free with coffee and pastries available. Noon concerts are general admission, pay-what-you-can events.
Season Ticket Package – The Best Way to Experience the Festival
Festivalgoers can experience the full magic of the Victoria Bach Festival with a Season Ticket Package, offering all evening concerts in Victoria at a discounted rate.
“Choose the season package for maximum value or purchase individual tickets for your favorite events,” said Moore. “We’re proud to offer performances that are both world-class and accessible to our entire community.”
“Join us for the 51st season of the Victoria Bach Festival, May 30 through June 6, 2026,” Moore added. “Support this incredible tradition by attending, donating, and helping us continue to bring extraordinary music to the Crossroads.”
For tickets and the full schedule, visit: victoriabachfestival.org
Follow the Festival on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
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About the Victoria Bach Festival Founded in 1976, the Victoria Bach Festival has grown into one of South Texas’s most respected arts organizations. Now in its 51st season, the Festival continues to bring internationally acclaimed musicians to local stages while expanding arts education opportunities and showcasing the Victoria community to a broader audience.
Led by Artistic Director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, the Festival celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and composers across the centuries through orchestral, choral, and chamber performances performed by local and nationally recognized artists. Learn more at victoriabachfestival.org.