Return to the Newly Reopened Robert Mondavi Winery and Van Cliburn Medalist Evren Ozel
June 10, 2026 (Napa Valley, CA) — Music in the Vineyards (MITV), Napa Valley’s premier chamber music festival highlights its 2026 season with a return to the newly reopened Robert Mondavi Winery and an appearance by rising piano star Evren Ozel, Bronze Medal winner of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Part of the festival’s 2026 theme, “Taking Root: Celebrating America’s 250th,” the concerts bring internationally acclaimed artists to some of Napa Valley’s most celebrated winery venues, pairing world-class chamber music with the region’s renowned wine country setting.
A centerpiece of the season will be Music in the Vineyards’ return to Robert Mondavi Winery on August 16 for the concert “Beyond Words.” The performance marks one of the festival’s most anticipated venue events, bringing chamber music back to one of Napa Valley’s most iconic cultural destinations following the winery’s extensive renovation and reopening. The concert explores the power of music to communicate beyond language through works by Beethoven, Carlos Simon, Ernest Bloch, and more.
Another festival highlight is the appearance of acclaimed young pianist Evren Ozel at Ehlers Estate on August 15 in the program “Tales, Travelers & Tricksters.” Ozel, who earned international recognition as a medalist at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will join renowned clarinetist Julian Bliss for Aaron Copland’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and return for Stravinsky’s theatrical Suite from The Soldier’s Tale.
Additional highlights of the 2026 series include:
Maxville Winery — August 9
From the theatrical flair of Jacques Offenbach to the cinematic intensity of Miklós Rózsa, this concert begins with intimate conversations between paired instruments and concludes with a joyful arrangement of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante.
Louis M. Martini Winery — August 11
Benjamin Britten’s haunting Serenade takes center stage, framed by the horn’s ethereal solos. Baltimore Symphony Principal Horn James Ferree and Grammy-award winner tenor Nicholas Phan make their MITV debuts. The program concludes with a more relaxed and sociable side of Beethoven in his playful Serenade for string trio.
Markham Vineyards – August 14
Vienna is more than a city — it is a living artistic legacy. This program traces four centuries of Viennese genius, culminating in Erich Korngold, the legendary film composer who carried the grandeur of his Austrian roots straight to the heart of Hollywood.
In addition to a month filled with performances and events, Music in the Vineyards’ 32nd Annual Season concludes on August 23 with an unforgettable evening of music, dining, and celebration to ensure the ongoing success and future of the event. Set against the storied backdrop of Inglenook in Napa Valley — and raising a glass to the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Judgment of Paris — this special gala concert & dinner honors what it means to call a place home.
“These concerts represent everything that makes Music in the Vineyards unique,” said Artistic Directors Michael Adams and Daria T. Adams. “With welcoming audiences back to the beautifully renewed Robert Mondavi Winery and presenting exceptional young artists such as Evren Ozel, the 2026 season celebrates composers and musicians whose diverse cultural backgrounds help shape the American musical landscape.”
Founded in 1995, Music in the Vineyards is one of the nation’s leading chamber music festivals, bringing distinguished artists and emerging stars together for performances in intimate winery venues throughout Napa Valley. The festival’s unique combination of exceptional music, hospitality, and spectacular vineyard settings has made it a cultural destination for audiences from across the country.
Tickets and complete festival information are available at www.musicinthevineyards.org.
About Music in the Vineyards
Music in the Vineyards is a world-renowned chamber music festival held each August in stunning winery settings in the Napa Valley. The festival showcases distinguished musicians and emerging young talent during its four-week season. With complimentary wine tastings at each intermission and breathtaking views of the Napa valley, this unique combination of wine country ambiance and great musicianship allows audiences to experience chamber music in the small intimate settings it was intended for.
Music in the Vineyards also provides a variety of engagement and educational opportunities throughout the Napa Valley during the Festival and throughout the year. In addition to the Music for Students program, this includes free performances for young children and seniors in retirement homes and adult care facilities, open rehearsals, student masterclasses, and support for the Napa Valley Youth Symphony. For additional information on these activities and more, please visit musicinthevineyards.org/echo/
