The Tuckamore Music Festival

Monday, June 22, 12-12 a.m.

Burtons Pond Rd.

The Tuckamore Festival proudly celebrates its 26th anniversary season with two weeks of awe-inspiring

music from some of the world’s greatest musicians from Monday, June 22nd to Sunday, July 5th, 2026.

 

Our free pre-season events from Thursday, June 18th to Sunday, June 21st kick-off the season with

events featuring Duo Perpetou, Duo Concertante and Festival alumni, as well as an

engaging enrichment talk by music theorist Joe Argentino.

 

The 2026 festival officially opens on Monday, June 22nd with a concert by ECMA award winning Duo Concertane, composed of Nancy Dahn and Timothy Steeves. Highlights throughout the two weeks include the Brentano String Quartet, acclaimed harpist Kristan Toczko, Tom Allen with Deantha Edmunds, Heather Kao on violin, Lori Gemmell on harp, Bill Brennan on the piano, and Jim Vivian on the bass. The Argentine trio consisted of Marc Djokic on the violin, Chloé Dominguez on the cello and Louise Bessette on the piano. In addition, two faculty concerts will showcase collaborations between Tuckamore Faculty faculty members Nancy Dahn, Timothy Steeves, and Vernon Regehr and guest artists Violaine Melancon on the violin, and Angela Pickett on the viola.

 

During the two weeks, the Festival offers numerous free events including masterclasses, open rehearsals,

children’s concerts, and workshops. Our Young Artist Program features emerging string players,

pianists, and composers from across North America who will appear throughout the festival in free

lunchtime concerts and the Festival Finale. They will also present the world premiere of three new works

by Young Artist Composers under the mentorship of an innovative Canadian composer Melissa Hui.

 

Visit tuckamorefestival.ca for full festival details, programs, artist bios, free events, and ticket options. A

list of all 2026 pre-season and ticketed programming follows this release.

###

 

 

 

Contact:

Lynette Stoyles

TEL: (709) 330-4599

info@tuckamorefestival.ca

 

 

 

 

Pre-Season Events

 

FREE Prelude Concert with Duo Perpetuo
Thursday, June 18, 12:30 pm, Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

FREE Pop Up concert with Tuckamore faculty and alumni

Hosted by Diamond Design

Saturday, June 20, 1 pm, Churchill Square

 

FREE Tuckamore Talk by Joe Argentino

Sunday, June 21, 3 pm, Bannerman Brewing Company

 

Main Season Concerts

 

Evening Concert Series

Opening Night: Duo Concertante – At Water’s Edge WORLD PREMIERE

Monday, June 22, 7:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

A multi-disciplinary work, inspired by the community of Tilting, NL, featuring the music of Melissa Hui, animation and visual design by Duncan Major with Robert Mellin as creative advisor. With works inspired by other homelands by Janacek, da Falla, and Stravinsky.

 

Port of Call: BUENOS AIRES

Wednesday, June 24, 7:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

An evening of Astor Piazzolla’s sophisticated piano trio music with its roots in Argentinian tango.

Marc Djokic, violin; Chloé Dominguez, cello; Louise Bessette, piano

Late Night: No Treble! With Kate Read, viola and Heather Tuach, cello

Thursday, June 25, 9:00 pm, Bannerman Brewery

Heather Tuach and Kate Read team up in an eclectic and rousing program featuring a new work by Tuckamore alum and rising star composer, Corner Brook’s Robert Humber.

Fire, Fury, and Folklore

Friday, June 26, 7:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

Guest artists Violaine Melancon, violin, and Angela Pickett, viola, team up with Tuckamore Faculty in this magical and dramatic evening of chamber music by Turina, Glière, Caroline Shaw, culminating in Dvorak’s beloved Piano Quintet.

Meet the Composers and Young Artists at Play

Saturday, June 27, 7 pm, Suncor Energy Hall

Audiences are treated to an introduction of the Young Composers new works for piano trio, followed by their world-premiere performances by our Young Artist performers.

 

Jon Kimura Parker, piano

Sunday, June 28, 7:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

Join us as we welcome world renowned pianist – and audience favourite – Jon Kimura Parker to the stage for a program of Beethoven, Ravel, and Chopin.

 

Late Night: Of This Place

Tuesday, June 30, 9:00 pm, LSPU Hall

A Newfoundland centred evening of ballads, readings and storytelling with Matthew Byrne
and Dave Paddon.

Brentano String Quartet in Admiral’s Cove

Wednesday, July 1, 7:00 pm, The Old Church in Admiral’s Cove

Join one of the world’s finest string quartets amid the scenic beauty and excellent acoustics of
The Old Church.

 

Brentano String Quartet in Concert

Thursday July 2, 7:30 pm, First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity

One of the world’s finest string quartets returns to Tuckamore.

 

Masterpieces and Milestones: Brentano String Quartet and Tuckamore Faculty

Friday, July 3, 7:30 pm,  D.F. Cook Recital Hall

Two genre defying works from the middle periods of Shostakovich (the deeply affecting Trio in E minor) and Beethoven (the daring and dazzling String Quartet op. 59 no 1).

Tom Allen: Brahms in New York

Saturday, July 4, 7:30 pm, Majestic Theatre

Exploring the real and imagery lives of Johannes Brahms through stories and music. Featuring narrator
Tom Allen with Deantha Edmunds, soprano, Heather Kao, violin, Lori Gemmell, harp, Bill Brennan,
piano, and Jim Vivian, bass.

 

Festival Finale with Tuckamore Young Artists

Sunday, July 5, 7:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

We celebrate our Young Artists with the final performance of the festival.

Post-season, Education and Outreach programming

 

FREE Lunchtime Concerts, featuring solo and chamber music by Tuckamore Young Artists

Wednesday & Thursday, June 24 & 25, 12:30 pm

Wednesday & Thursday, July 1 & 2, 12:30 pm

Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Our Young Artists are the main act in these free afternoon events, held in a majestic,
light-filled heritage church.

FREE Adaptive Concert with PORT OF CALL: BUENOS AIRES

Thursday, June 25, 11 am, Suncor Hall

This trio of Louise Bessette, piano, Marc Djokic, violin, Chloé Dominguez, cello brings the colourful music of Astor Piazzolla to those with sensory sensitivities and exceptionalities, including autistic and neurodivergent kids and adults

FREE Children’s Concert by Brentano String Quartet

Thursday, July 2, 11 am, The Rooms

An adaptive performance by the Brentano Quartet for our youngest audiences.

Young Artists in Brigus

Saturday, July 4, 3 pm, St. George’s Church, Brigus

Our Young Artists bring their talents to this historic outport community, an hour outside St. John’s.

FREE Post-concert Artist Interviews

Friday, June 26, 9:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

Sunday, June 28, 9:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

Friday, July 3, 9:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

 

FREE Masterclasses, Workshops and Open Rehearsals

Angela Pickett, guest violist: Wednesday, June 24, 2 pm, Suncor Recital Hall

Violaine Melançon, guest violinist: Tuesday, June 23, 2 pm Suncor Recital Hall

Community Masterclass with Tuckamore Faculty: Sunday, June 28, 2 pm, School of Music

Community Sight Reading: Sunday, June 28, 4 pm, School of Music

Jon Kimura Parker: Monday, June 29, 10:00 am D.F. Cook Recital Hall

Members of the Brentano String Quartet: July 1, 10 am, School of Music

Body Mapping Workshops with Lauren Smee: Tuesday, June 23 & Monday, June 29, 6:30-9 pm,

Choral Room

Open Rehearsal: Friday, June 26 , 2-3:30 pm, D.F. Cook Recital Hall

 

POST-FESTIVAL TOUR

 

Tuckamore Young Artist Trio

4 performances in Pouch Cove, Cupids, Avondale/Heart’s Content, Port Rexton, July 6-8, 2026

 

Tuckamore Faculty | Duo Concertante

4 performances at The Beaches (Eastport), Grand Falls, Rotary Arts Centre (Corner Brook), Garrick Theatre (Bonavista) July 7-10, 2026

Presented by The Tuckamore Festival