A visionary nonprofit — created by the founders of the legendary Gorge Amphitheatre — announces a mission-driven cultural campus, launching with its inaugural SOAR Festival on Saturday, August 22, 2026, featuring David Foster and Friends, Katharine McPhee, and the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra
QUINCY, Wash. — June 16, 2026 — A new chapter is beginning in one of America’s most iconic landscapes. The Hilltop today announced its vision for a mission-driven cultural campus Above the Columbia, where music, learning, nature, and the human experience converge — and unveiled the lineup for its inaugural SOAR Festival, the celebration that launches it all on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Next to the legendary Gorge Amphitheatre and created by founders Vince and Carol Bryan, The Hilltop will add two new venues on one visionary cultural campus — a global stage for its four guiding Waypoints: Arts, Science, Environment, and Human Experience.
The nonprofit’s mission is to create immersive experiences that inspire curiosity, celebrate creativity, and invite audiences of all ages to explore the possibilities of art, discovery, and the human spirit.
A Campus Designed for Wonder
The planned campus will feature two new signature venues overlooking the Columbia and the Gorge:
• The Grotto — a 1,200-seat indoor concert hall envisioned for music and theatrical performances, lectures, chamber concerts, masterclasses, and multidisciplinary programming.
• The Terraces — a 2,000-seat open-air amphitheater designed for concerts, cultural events, and sunset performances with panoramic Gorge views.
Surrounding the venues, The Perch presents a network of desert walkways and gathering spaces that immerse visitors in sweeping views of the high-desert ecosystem Above the Columbia — introducing them to the remarkable diversity of plant forms that have thrived in this landscape for millennia. The experience is intended to feel as though the desert itself has been curated, concentrated, and handed to visitors on a footpath.
The broader vision also includes musician and emerging-artist accommodations integrated with the concert hall, creating space for residency, rehearsal, and creative exchange. Adjacent to the award-winning Cave B Estate Winery and Sagecliffe Resort & Spa — recognized by Condé Nast Traveler — the campus is envisioned as a destination for cultural tourism and elevated guest experiences.
A Vision Shaped by the Landscape
The design philosophy is rooted in a core belief: the landscape is not a backdrop, but an active partner in shaping the architecture itself. Co-founder Vince Bryan describes this principle as foundational to the vision:
“We want the environment to be the structure for the architect to work with — not to impose a structure on it, but to look to the environment as it is, embracing the elements where they are, and allowing them to dictate the structure.”
— Vince Bryan, Co-founder
Looking Ahead
Organizers emphasize that this is more than the creation of new performance spaces — it is the foundation of a long-term global platform for arts, ideas, environmental stewardship, and innovation. As development progresses, The Hilltop will invite philanthropic partners, educators, artists, researchers, and civic leaders to help shape a destination intended to serve generations to come.
The Inaugural SOAR Festival — August 22
To introduce the public to the vision, The Hilltop will host SOAR Festival 2026 on Saturday, August 22, from 6 to 11 p.m. at Cave B Estate Winery in Quincy, Washington. Set against the breathtaking beauty of the Gorge, the festival is an extraordinary evening of music, culture, and inspiration celebrating the launch of a bold new vision for arts and culture in the Pacific Northwest.
The evening will feature world-class performances by acclaimed producer, composer, and songwriter David Foster and Friends, acclaimed vocalist and Broadway performer Katharine McPhee, accompanied by the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, along with special appearances by renowned Seattle-based Broadway performer Mari Nelson and Alexander Kilian.
More than a concert, the festival is the first public expression of the campus mission — an invitation to experience the world-class performances, cultural experiences, educational programming, environmental exploration, and artistic discovery that will define The Hilltop for years to come.
Tickets are available now at thehilltop.org. A limited number of VIP — Very Important Philanthropist — tickets are available separately; to learn more, contact info@thehilltop.org.
Event Details
What: SOAR Festival 2026 — presented by The Hilltop
When: Saturday, August 22, 2026 · 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Where: Cave B Estate Winery — Quincy Tasting Room & Winery, 348 Silica Rd NW, Quincy, WA 98848
Tickets: thehilltop.org
VIP — Very Important Philanthropist: By inquiry — info@thehilltop.org About The Hilltop
The Hilltop is a nonprofit cultural destination Above the Columbia in the Gorge where arts, science, environment, and human experience converge. Created by the founders of the legendary Gorge Amphitheatre, the organization is building two new performance venues — The Grotto and The Terraces — alongside educational programs and community experiences, in Quincy, Washington. Its inaugural SOAR Festival takes place August 22, 2026. Learn more at thehilltop.org.
