Overview

Fellowship Highlights

  • Full Scholarships: All musicians receive a full scholarship valued at $10,000 to attend the Summer Music Festival. Scholarship includes housing, travel stipend, food stipend, and more.
  • More Repertoire: Perform more repertoire at the NRO than at any other festival of its kind.
  • Solo Opportunities: Solo opportunities at orchestral concerts.
  • Chamber Music: Create interactive chamber music programs as part of the NRO’s Community Engagement initiative.
  • Masterclasses & Sectionals: Learn from industry experts at a series of masterclasses and sectionals.
  • Guest Conductors: Perform with world-class conductors.

2026 Conductors

  • Michael Stern (Music Director)
  • Carl Topilow (Music Director Laureate)
  • Leonard Slatkin
  • Carlos Miguel Prieto
  • Teddy Abrams
  • Jason Seber
  • Damon Gupton

2026 Repertoire Preview

  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica”
  • Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”
  • Copland: Symphony No. 3
  • Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3
  • Stravinsky: Firebird Suite
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 1, “Titan”
  • Respighi: Pines of Rome

Important Dates

The Summer Music Festival will run from June 15 – August 8, 2026 (8 weeks). Musicians will arrive in Breckenridge on Sunday, June 14 and depart on Sunday, August 9.

Application Fees & Deadlines

  • $40: October 13 – November 30, 2025
  • $75: December 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
  • $125: January 16 – January 25, 2026

All fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and applicable until the deadline date at 11:59 PM, MST.

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status in February 2026.