FREDERICKSBURG, Texas _World-class cello performances are coming to a Texas Hill Country town better known for its German heritage, wineries and honkytonks. For two weeks starting June 8, Fredericksburg will be a national hotspot for cello lovers, offering some of the best live cello music available anywhere.

   The inaugural Fredericksburg Music Festival and School, organized by the nonprofit TexasCellos, is expected to become an annual event, putting the popular tourist destination on the map for cello aficionados and students alike.

   The cast of 25 festival performers is a who's who of cello virtuosos from the U.S., Asia and Europe. They'll perform at memorable concert venues around Fredericksburg, from the Marienkirche at St. Mary's Church and Becker Vineyards to Altstadt Brewery, the Historic Nimitz Ballroom and even in an awe-inspiring regional cave, Cave Without a Name.   

   The star-studded roster includes Richard Aaron, cello professor at The Juilliard School and San Francisco Conservatory; Kenneth Freudigman, the San Antonio Symphony's principal cellist; Clive Greensmith, former principal cellist of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; and Texas' own Joseph Kuipers, an accomplished concert cellist and the founder of TexasCellos. 

   The repertoire on offer is as enticing as it is varied. It ranges from Bach's famed Six Suites _ each suite to be played by a different cellist _ to a Jewish-themed concert by the principal cellist of the Houston Symphony, Brinton Averil Smith.

   Other notable performances include French jazz violinist Scott Tixier, a six-time Grammy Award winner, playing amid cone-shaped stalagmites at the cave.

   The closing gala concert on June 21 at the war museum will feature a cello choir comprised of festival faculty and students playing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and music from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

   Among the headline events during the festival will be the official launch of the Texas Cello School Fredericksburg, which will bring together gifted young cello students from around the world.

   Fredericksburg, a town of about 10,000 inhabitants established by German immigrants in 1846, regularly tops lists of the most beautiful cities in Texas. It's known for music, exquisite restaurants and boutiques, and for vineyards dotting surrounding hills.  Fredericksburg is located about 70 miles northwest of San Antonio.      

   The Dallas-based TexasCellos, founded in 2020, is committed to fostering more intimate, in-person interactions between cellists and audiences. The charitable organization also provides the highest level of cello instruction through its Texas Cello School.  ■