Taneycomo Festival Orchestra presents its 15th season

Founded in 2012 by Branson native Dr. Larkin Sanders, the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra (TFO) will open the curtain on its summer season in June. This year’s collection of concerts includes two symphony orchestra performances, a children’s concert and three chamber music concerts, as well as several casual concerts at Missouri breweries. Music director and conductor Joseph Peters also returns to lead the orchestra this season. 

This year’s first orchestral concert, “Conflict and Catharsis,” features Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 and Reena Esmail’s RE|Member, a reflection on the transformations experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. TFO’s other full-ensemble performance will spotlight the skills of TFO’s core string members with Jessie Montgomery’s Banner, a work for solo string quartet and orchestra. Other works on the “Dances and Diversions” program include Shostakovich’s Festive Overture and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. These orchestra concerts will both take place at Hollister High School. 

TFO showcases its musicians with three annual chamber music concerts, “All-Star Soloists,” “Music by Living Composers,” and “Our Favorite Pieces.” The selections for these concerts range from pieces for one musician, sometimes written by the musician themselves, up to works for 10 or 12 players. All of these concerts will take place at Branson’s Fellowship at Cross Creek Church. 

The 15th season of Branson’s festival orchestra is pleased to add several additional community engagement events. Musicians from the orchestra will be performing at Turkey Creek Brewery, Downing Street Pour House, and Hold Fast Brewing (Springfield, MO), as well as visiting the Library Center of the Ozarks for a children’s concert. 

Each year, TFO attracts around 100 musicians from across the country to Branson for two weeks of rehearsals and performances. These musicians range from college students at some of the country’s best music programs to established musicians who hold professorships and orchestral jobs. One of the attractions of TFO for musicians is the opportunity to build connections with peers at different stages of their careers. 

Admission is free at all Taneycomo Festival Orchestra events. The Taneycomo Festival Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is supported by donations of money, food, time and hospitality. To learn more about supporting TFO, visit taneycomofestivalorchestra.org/donateandvolunteer.

2026 schedule of events

·       10 a.m. Monday, June 15 

Children’s Concert 

This kid-friendly, interactive concert will introduce various orchestral instruments, including a quintet version of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. 

Library Center of the Ozarks, 1200 S. 4th St., Branson 

·       6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 

TFO’s Suds & Sonatas 

Musicians from the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra present this casual concert and social gathering. Repertoire to be announced. 

Turkey Creek Brewery, 1865 US-65 Business, Hollister

·       7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 

TFO All-Star Soloists Concert 

TFO’s orchestral musicians present a variety of solo works. Repertoire to be announced. Fellowship at Cross Creek Church, 505 Cedar Park Road, Branson

·       7:30 p.m. Friday June 19 

Taneycomo Festival Orchestra: Conflict and Catharsis 

The world-class Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, made up of professional musicians, music students, and skilled amateurs, presents a concert of symphonic works reflecting struggle and triumph. Joseph Peters, conductor 

Reena Esmail: RE|Member 

Leonard Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story 

Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 

Hollister High School, 2112 State Hwy BB, Hollister

·       7:30 p.m. Monday, June 22 

TFO’s String Theory: An Evening of Cosmic Grooves 

Musicians from the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra present this casual concert and social gathering highlighting the orchestra’s string players. Repertoire to be announced. 

Hold Fast Brewing, 235 N. Kimbrough Ave., Springfield 

·      7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 

TFO’s String Theory: An Evening of Cosmic Grooves 

Musicians from the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra present this casual concert and social gathering highlighting the orchestra’s string players. Repertoire to be announced. 

Downing Street Pour House, 24 Downing St., Hollister

·       7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24 

TFO’s Music by Living Composers Concert 

The world-class musicians from the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra present works for soloists and chamber ensembles written by living composers– sometimes by the performers themselves. Repertoire to be announced. Fellowship at Cross Creek Church, 505 Cedar Park Road, Branson

·       7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25 

TFO’s Our Favorite Pieces Concert 

TFO’s orchestral musicians perform some of their bucket-list chamber music works. Repertoire to be announced. Fellowship at Cross Creek Church, 505 Cedar Park Road, Branson 

·       7:30 p.m. Friday, June 27 

Taneycomo Festival Orchestra: Dances and Diversions 

The Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, which consists of professional musicians, music students and skilled amateurs from across the country, presents a concert of festive symphonic works. Joseph Peters, conductor 

Dmitri Shostakovich: Festive Overture 

Jessie Montgomery: Banner for solo string quartet and orchestra 

Leonard Bernstein: Divertimento for Orchestra 

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances 

Hollister High School, 2112 State Hwy. BB, Hollister