BridgeMusik Announces 2026 Summer Festival Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BridgeMusik Announces 2026 Summer Festival: “We the Music — Celebrating 250 Years of American Voices”

August 1–16 Festival Features Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale, Free Community Concerts, Student Programs, and Two World-Premiere Commissions

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — BridgeMusik proudly announces the Ninth Annual BridgeMusik Summer Festival, taking place August 1–16, 2026 throughout Rockland County, New York. This year's festival, We the Music — Celebrating 250 Years of American Voices, joins communities across the nation in commemorating America's upcoming 250th anniversary through music, education, and community engagement.

The two-week festival will feature professional performances, free library concerts, student mentorship programs, community outreach events, and two world-premiere commissions created especially for the festival.

The festival opens August 1–2 at the Nyack Center with a fully staged production of Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale (L'Histoire du Soldat), directed by Malena Dayen and conducted by David Rosenmeyer. The production stars Danny Bryck, Alok Tewari, Mary Neufeld, and JoVonna Parks and will also feature the world premiere of Dedication to Faust, a newly commissioned work by acclaimed American composer Thomas Cabaniss.

During Library Week (August 4–7), BridgeMusik artists will present a series of free public concerts throughout Rockland County exploring the many voices that have shaped American music. Programs include jazz, chamber music, wind quintet performances, and works inspired by immigration, cultural exchange, and the American experience. Additional outreach performances will be presented in partnership with Meals on Wheels Rockland and local senior communities.

The festival's student program takes place August 10–16 at Our Lady of Sacred Heart School in Tappan. Young musicians study with distinguished faculty artists from leading institutions including the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York City Ballet Orchestra, Broadway productions, The Juilliard School, and Montclair State University. Special educational events include a masterclass with internationally acclaimed flutist Carol Wincenc, Professor of Flute at The Juilliard School and a member of BridgeMusik's Board of Directors.

Student Week begins with New Voices, New Horizons on August 9, featuring The Dolphins Quartet, Continuum Wind Quintet, BridgeMusik Festival Faculty, and the world premiere of a new America 250 commission composed and performed by The Dolphins Quartet. Together with Thomas Cabaniss's Dedication to Faust, the commission reflects BridgeMusik's commitment to supporting the creation of new American music.

The festival concludes August 16 with Festival Finale — We the Music, featuring festival students, faculty artists, and guest performers in a celebration of American music highlighted by Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring.

Founded by Tanya Witek and Krystof Witek, BridgeMusik is a Rockland County-based nonprofit organization dedicated to creating affordable and empowering opportunities for young musicians through mentorship, collaboration, and performance alongside professional artists.

With the exception of the opening weekend performances of The Soldier's Tale, all festival events are offered free of charge. Advance registration is required for most events due to limited seating.

For festival schedules, tickets, registration, and additional information, visit:

www.bridgemusik.com

Festival Events & Registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/bridgemusik-summer-festival-2026-we-the-music-4845363

BridgeMusik Summer Festival 2026 is made possible in part through the support of the New York State Council on the Arts, the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, the Curtis W. McGraw Foundation, the Froning Family Foundation, Nyack Tourism Grant, individual donors, and community partners.

Media Contact:
Tanya Witek & Krystof Witek
Co-Founders & Co-Artistic Directors
BridgeMusik, Inc.
info@bridgemusik.com
www.bridgemusik.com