Agarita Announces 2026-2027 Season

 

Agarita, San Antonio’s acclaimed chamber music ensemble dedicated to making classical music accessible to all, has announced its 2026–2027 season. The new season builds on Agarita’s remarkable growth with an expansive lineup of free community concerts, citywide mobile performances, educational programming, and interdisciplinary collaborations that connect music with dance, poetry, and visual art.

With performances spanning intimate venues, historic spaces, and neighborhoods across all 10 city council districts and 4 precincts, Agarita continues to redefine how audiences experience classical music, removing barriers and bringing world-class artistry directly to the community.

“This season reflects everything we believe music can do, bring people together, tell powerful stories, and create meaningful connections across disciplines and communities,” said Marisa Bushman, violist, Executive Director, and co-founder of Agarita. “From Beethoven to Buster Keaton, from poetry to dance, we’re inviting audiences to experience music in ways that are both deeply personal and widely accessible.”

2026–2027 Community Concert Series

Agarita’s signature Community Concerts remain free and open to the public, featuring an inspiring range of programs and guest artists:

• September 11, 2026 —Step back into 1925 for a magical evening as Agarita performs Stephen Prutsman’s vibrant live score to Buster Keaton’s silent film Seven Chances. Experience the timeless comedy of the silver screen brought thrillingly to life through the energy of live chamber music, featuring Joseph Conyers (bass) and Jessica Petrasek (flute).
• October 25, 2026 — Join Agarita and the extraordinary soprano Meghan Picerno for a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary through music. From the blues to Broadway and beyond, this vibrant program explores the diverse traditions that have shaped America’s unique musical identity.
• December 5, 2026 — Experience the breathtaking acoustics of the Chapel of the Incarnate Word as Agarita expands into a chamber orchestra for an evening of music that soars through the space. Spanning centuries of repertoire, this transporting program celebrates the beauty and resonance of one of San Antonio’s most remarkable venues.
• February 13, 2027 — Internationally acclaimed guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas reunites with Agarita at Stable Hall, featuring violinist Isabelle Ai Durrenberger. The warmth and intimacy of this remarkable venue provide the perfect setting for Pablo’s expressive artistry and the ensemble’s celebrated musical chemistry. This performance coincides with the release of Agarita’s collaborative album with Pablo recorded earlier this year.
• March 26, 2027 — Marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death, violinist Suliman Tekalli joins Agarita to celebrate one of history’s greatest musical voices. This program explores the composer’s extraordinary emotional depth, from tenderness to triumph, humor to heartbreak.
• May 8, 2027 — At McAllister Auditorium, Agarita reunites with ballerina and choreographer Sofie Bertolini and an ensemble of dancers for a captivating evening where music and movement become one. This immersive collaboration transforms the concert experience, bringing chamber music vividly to life through dance.
• June 26, 2027 — Music and words intertwine as Agarita joins forces with the poets of Gemini Ink for an evening of storytelling through sound and language. Discover how poetry and chamber music illuminate one another in a performance that celebrates the power of both art forms.

Humble Hall: Music Across San Antonio

Agarita’s mobile concert hall, Humble Hall, will once again bring live performances to every corner of the city, reaching all 10 city council districts and all four Bexar County precincts. The season launches on September 19, 2026, with performances at Maverick Library (District 7) and Potranco Library (District 6), featuring folkloric singer Azul Barrientos, pianist David Kaplan, and violinist YuEun Kim. Agarita and the Humble Hall will also return to the King William Fair on April 24.

Agarita Inspires! Educational Reach

Agarita is thrilled to welcome fellow musician Aimee Lopez as Agarita’s new Education Coordinator. In this role, she will oversee programming as Agarita presents more than 40 Agarita Inspires! performances in schools and libraries throughout San Antonio. Last year, Agarita Inspires! reached more than 7,000 students, providing free, high-quality musical experiences at no cost to schools or families.

Agarita Loft: A Hub for Artistic Exploration

The Agarita Loft will host more than 30 events throughout the season, including performances, lectures, and special ticketed experiences. Highlights include:

• Programming celebrating America’s 250th anniversary,
• A multi-concert Beethoven commemoration marking the 200th anniversary of his death,
• Ticketed food and music series,
• Play It Back!, a lecture series led by Artistic Director Daniel Anastasio,
• Appearances by renowned guest artists including the Formosa Quartet; pianists David Kaplan, Adam Golka, Daniel del Pino, and Juan Carlos Fernández Nieto; and violinists Suliman Tekalli, Livia Sohn, and YuEun Kim

Agarita Loft Gallery: A Season of Visual Dialogue

Curated by Jon Hinojosa, the Agarita Loft Gallery’s 2026–2027 season explores the relationship between visual art, music, movement, and language. Through four exhibitions presented on a quarterly rhythm, the gallery continues its mission to elevate diverse and culturally specific artists while fostering community dialogue.

Exhibitions include:

• Between Form and Memory (Oct. 1 – Dec. 17, 2026)
• Listening in Color: Music, Abstraction, and the Emotional Score (Jan. 7 – Mar. 18, 2027)
• The Moving Line: Body, Gesture, and Language (Apr. 1 – Jun. 17, 2027)
• Afterimage: Place, Memory, and What Remains (July 1 – Sept. 16, 2027)

Together, the exhibitions create a visual counterpart to Agarita’s musical programming, transforming the Loft into a space for reflection, dialogue, and cultural exchange.

Programming is subject to change. Feature photo by Josh Huskin.

Support and Partnerships

The 2026–2027 season is made possible through the support of new and returning funders, including the Area Foundation Cultural Vibrancy Grant, San Antonio Symphony League, Kronkosky Foundation, and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Additional support is provided by the Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts, Bexar County Precinct 2, City of San Antonio City Council Project Funding, City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, H-E-B, H-E-B Tournament of Champions, the Greehey Family Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.