Round Top Festival Institute

Festival Hill Institute is one of those hidden gems in small town Texas! Check out their website for incredible events to attend. The concert hall is breathtaking and will transport your mind and senses back in time. I had the recent honor to organize an educational opportunity for children in Fayette county to attend a performance by the Houston Grand Opera To-Go at this venue. As you can tell from the photos and video it was inspirational. Plan your visit today!

Completely surprised by the level of quality of this place. The venue is beautiful and the quality of the artists amazing. We will keep checking for the next presentation to come back.

a magnificent music venue! this has been a labor of love for these folks for 51 years. started in 1971 as nothing more than a pole barn in the middle of nowhere has turned into the magnificence you would expect to see in Vienna! the grounds are open to the public to walk around and take in the magnificent craftsmanship of grottos and worthy of a king!

Beautiful compound, take time to walk/tour the property - talk with any of the volunteers for additional information

Beautiful music venue, other-worldly Edyth Bates Chapel grounds, Menke House, and gardens beyond. A magical refuge from city life that swells with art and vitality. Visited for volunteer service day and the first Texas Brass Festival, both worthy community gatherings in their own right.

Came on a weekend. Though the place was absolutely gorgeous, it appeared as though it had been abandoned. Tons of overgrown plants, alot of algae, wasp nests and broken objects. Also abandons gardens. I'm giving it a 5 star because it was mysterious, sometimes creepy but also beautiful.

A hidden gem!! I just spent 4 hours with some of the most wonderful people I've ever met. I heard about this place on "Barnwood Builders" episode. Linda, who works in the office was very gracious and informative. She told us the history of this beautiful place. I went here expecting to just see some beautiful architecture to post on here, but I was given a whole lot more! This place hosts all kinds of music events and concerts. The acoustics in this place is out of this world! The concerts and symphonies will begin again August 15th. Don't wait! Go see the architecture! I promise you will NOT be disappointed! They host 90+ kids from all over the world for 6 weeks every year. They win a scholarship and get to play their instruments with their new friends. I can imagine the character building that goes on as a result of them attending here. I met Nancy who is on their board of directors and one of their biggest supporters. She's a wonderful lady. I also met James, the mastermind behind the whole institute. Awesome guy! Tell your friends and family about this place! History like this should be seen by everyone! I promise you will be glad you came here. I centers your soul! Tell them Kelly sent you! They will certainly see me again! P.S tell them I said hello!

This place is a beautiful place to see, even when there is no performances. We arrived at just the right time and were able to walk through. I am a woodworker and the interior woodwork is fantastic. It was all done by one man. It's located virtually in the middle of nowhere, just outside the commnunity of Roundtop, Texas. It seems like the acoustics would be great for musical performances, though, to be honest we were not there for that.

The venue is absolutely amazing - built with passion, love and amazing craftsmanship. The acoustics are great, and it's gorgeous to look at. How fabulous it is to have this incredible venue half way between Austin and Houston. Either of those cities would love to Festival Hall within their city limits. But here it is, in rural Round Top. That said, Round Top is a great little city with nice dining options, great antique shops and more. We're really glad we discovered this gem!! They usually feature classical music, but today they invited the Houston Jazz Orchestra, a full 17- piece jazz band, and the first such big band to play at Festival Hall in their 50 year history. They gave a great performance. They were all so very talented and passionate about music. And a film crew was there recording the whole concert, which was interesting to watch. It was open seating. $30 per ticket (reasonable), with no food or drinks allowed or offered in the venue, even at intermission. But that made the intermission shorter. And I wouldn't allow food or drinks in there, either. The entire venue is a work of art. Even the floors are solid wood laid out in a herringbone pattern. They really went all out! We'll monitor their events and we'll be back. We may even bring a few friends with us. What a great place!

Cannot open website. Very frustrating. Want to see pricing and availability and can't do that!!!

I would call this a sanctuary for those who love classical music and want to see the cultivation of young talent. I would also like to add that this building has been amazingly adorn with some of the best carved woodwork I have seen in years. The floors, the ceilings and the walls leaves a visitor with many photo taking opportunities. The acoustics are amazing and the young talent is nothing short of professional. This little gem sits in the quiet town of Round Top population.... 90. Tucked between numerous antique shops and farms. Don't kid yourself this tiny town knows how to throw an amazing musical event!

Texas is a place of culture, it's easy to forget it, I think. And by culture, I don't mean just the food and BBQ culture, the live music, the sports, the writing and movie scenes, etc, but also musical culture and places of music of international stature, like this concert hall I went to this week-end, a true jewel of acoustics, wood working, as well as top quality international artists like the soloist (Stefan Milenkovich) who performed in the Sibelius violin concerto that we listened to. And it's located in a town with 93 inhabitants, in Fayette county. James Dick, a well-known concert pianist back in the days, founded the Round Top Festival Institute in 1971, and for the last nearly 50 years has been building it piece by piece. If you haven't been, I suggest you check out their web site and consider attending a concert. It's a little over an hour car ride from Austin, and you can also have simple but good French food at the Brazos Belle, at the nearby town of Burton (you know, the big town, with 296 inhabitants!). And if you have time, Round Top is also well known for its antiques!

Great place for amazing classical entertainment! Only the best musicians and the people who organize. 100% satisfied!

The concert hall at Round Top must be one of the greatest in the world. The beauty and the acoustics make it a blessing just to be in it. Last weekend, we went and heard the performance of the Mahler 9th symphony - it was an experience I will remember for my entire life. The young fantastic performers, the conductor, Benjamin Zander, and of course Mahler himself - all outdid expectations. What an incredible piece! What an insightful, excited, dynamic performance! Everyone participating was blessed to hear this astonishing work performed with a spirit, intelligence and virtuosity beyond what one could imagine. Everyone in Texas and beyond should visit Round Top Festival Institute - it is a world treasure.

Absolutely a Do Not Miss destination! Beautiful, surprisingly awe inspiring, yet in tiny around Top, Tx, with a total population under 100. Do yourself a great favor and go, see, visit, enjoy my all time favorite place in Texas!

I took my 13 yo nephew to the Christmas performance put on by Blinn's wind symphony back in November. I had visited the property years ago, but I had never been inside the performance hall. I was honestly absolutely blown away by the beauty of the performance in this lovely, gorgeous building. It is intimate and well-designed. Beautifully designed. I highly suggest this beautiful place to anyone for any performance. I can't wait for next year's Christmas performance, and I'll definitely try to make other shows in the meantime. Really, this is such a special place. A hidden gem in Round Top.

First of all my 2 star review has nothing to do with the hall, as it is spectacular when operational - just underutilized. The grounds have lost their luster and need serious attention. Secondly, COVID has been a game-changer and has definitely affected the venue; I acknowledge this. The primary problem I have is with the board's refusal to come up with fresh programming and bring in other types of classical artists and ensembles. One reviewer has made a solid point about Texas being rife with incredible musicians. I think of the universities - all within a 1-4 hours drive from RT. Texas Tech is outside of this but I include its school of music in this lot. Why not start an annual choral festival and invite choral students from TX to spend a week in the summer? Feature a university choir and conductor? Choral and conducting workshops all week with voice lessons and coaching? A major work at the end? What about the same for orchestras? Bands? How about more events for chamber music? Vocal recitals? Vocal Masterclasses? The artist featured a couple of years ago - I cannot recall her name or face - is not one well known in vocal circles. Sorry not sorry. She is not. You could stage an opera for example. Most everything I have seen over the past 10-20 years has been stagnant and uninspiring. How does the Board sleep at night knowing this is happening? We need fresh faces across the leadership. We need checks and balances to run this Institute the way it deserves and not maintain the status quo. Regarding leadership, I am not sure JD is fit for the role. In fact, I know he is not. The entire programming is a vanity project for him and always has been. I might even call the programming a study in JD and friends. Ask any major figure in the schools of music in TX what they think of RTFI. It saddens me that it has continued a downward spiral towards mediocrity and poor programming. We need a new start! We need new leadership. We need a new vision. Texas deserves it!!

The hall here is absolutely stunning, will need to make it back to hear some proper orchestral music and check out the festival orchestra. Show was amplified so didn't get a great judge of acoustics. The details from woodworking, and glass,to comfortable seating are absolutely stunning. I've had the pleasure of being to Symphony Hall, Mechanics Hall, Lincoln Center, Place Des Artes, Concertgebouw, The Kimmel Center, Meyerhof, Harris Hall and countless other world class halls but I think this is the most impressed I've been walking into a room ever. Shocking to have such a beautiful space seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

The small town of Round Top, located off Hwy 290 west of Brenham, is known to most Houstonians as the location of a large antique show held every year in the fall. However, its crown jewel, IMHO, is its International Festival Institute which hosts a music festival each summer that attracts young talent from around the globe. The Festival Concert Hall is a fantastic facility to listen to an eclectic mix of "Classical" music featuring both well-known and completely unknown (but up-and-coming) artists. You can drive out for the day or, better yet, check into one of many charming B&B's in the area and enjoy a few days of country living and cultural renewal. It's good for your soul...

The RTFI is a little off the beaten path when it comes to wedding venue searches, as their primary focus is on the concerts and poetry readings often hosted there. That's probably the reason that the information on this page is so scant or out of date (there are overnight accommodations, there is a room for a bridal suite if you want it). That being said, if you do want to host your wedding there, the staff is ready and willing to work with you. Stephanie is cheerful and enthusiastic, always there with an answer when I had a question, and kindly replied to all email inquiries, hosted a number of telephone interviews, and spent a couple of hours touring me and the groom around. I felt very welcome, and happy that I'd made my decision to get married there. RTFI is not for every bride. Understand that it is a bare-bones kind of venue that provides almost nothing else; you will still be on your own for food, music, etc. And Round Top is a trip for most of us, even driving from Austin it's over an hour away. When you get there, don't expect a lot of amenities in town to cover you if you forgot to pack something - the nearest Walmart is in Brenham over 20 minutes away. But. BUT. The scenery is utterly gorgeous. The town is adorable. Quaint abounds in every direction. My guests were in raptures over the charming town square, the beautiful pastures full of wildflowers, and the incredible architecture of the venue itself. We married in the Bates chapel, over 100 years old, and hosted the party outside on the Herzstein plaza. This meant that guests could drive exactly once and be in just the right place for the entire night, for maximum convenience (and for those that used the accommodations, didn't even have to drive!). Everyone was in awe of the plaza and surrounding grounds, with its beautiful sculptures, fountains, and brickwork. There was no traffic, no sirens, nothing but our own music and a beautiful view of the stars overhead as we danced the night away. Yes, it takes a lot of foresight and careful planning to organize and transport your wedding into deep rural Texas, but there's excellent payoff at the end. If this is the kind of wedding you're looking for, and the kind of environment you want, then yes, RTFI is for you. If you open inquiries at their office and you want more gritty details, absolutely ask them to provide you with Emily's contact information, and I will happily chat with you about what worked and what didn't, and answer any questions you may have. I have been a concert attendee at RTFI for years and years, and can now count myself as one of its few lucky brides, so I am happy to help support this side of their business however I can.

I attended concerts here yesterday for the first time, despite living in Austin for 35 years (and now Flatonia!). 3 concerts for $60.....a bargain. I have been to the Chicago Symphony, Lincoln Center in New York, and many concerts in Texas and Latin America. Yesterday was one of the 3 or 4 finest musical events I have ever attended. Pianist Francois Dumont playing Ravel's awesome Concerto for the Left Hand was nothing short of remarkable, as was the performance of the orchestra. Everything else all day....5 hours of music....was world class. This is the best thing to happen to Fayette County since they closed The Best Little Whorehouse.....though I cannot speak from personal experience on that one. Runner-up goes to the cole slaw at Gold'n Crisp Chicken in La Grange.

The reviews on the venue are quite accurate! Amazing concert hall; any major city in western Europe would be proud to have such an amazing facility. We did not attend the concert series. We attended the "Sounds of the 60's" Valentine's concert. My wife and I were really disappointed. It is billed as "..music of our lives, from Sinatra to the Beatles." Yes, they played some of this music. Some music was written by semi-locals; apparently all songs were performed by semi-locals. Three of the singers were aged 70 and 80+. Their voices were sadly long since gone for a concert venue. The best, strongest voice was unfortunately waaaay country compared to Sinatra & Beatles.

Went on a tour here with my garden club, was inspired by not only the history but the loving care that has sustained the place. Definitely surprised to discover this gem in a wooded area in Texas that is known for boot scootin, now high brow is an additional label. Having heard the Mormon Tabernacle choir, know the acoustics here will be comparable. Making tickets now for a concert in January. Photo ops amazing!

This is a highlight to any visit to Round Top Texas, I have been an antique dealer for the last 22 seasons of antique shows in Round Top selling antique maps, old prints and original art at Blue Hills antique show as well as at Marburger Farms (http://www.antiquemapsandworksonpaper.com). Blue Hills antique show is just north of Festival Hill and we meet every year great people that enjoy there visit there. Visit the inside of the concert hall.

The Festival Institute at Round Top is the real deal. World-class professional artists and up and coming student stars come together every summer for an unforgettable experience! A trip to this beautiful place incredibly worth it. Go see a concert, walk around the beautiful campus, then have a great meal in downtown Round Top!

Sadly the gardens look neglected and not in comparison to the older pictures. Tried to book the chapel or outside for a small wedding. The wedding even planner was completely not helpful and never responded after repeated attempts. It is a very small town with very little going on so to have a larger wedding there really are not a lot of places to stay. Repeated emails and phone calls with no answers. Not a way to run a business really.