Tune in to Tahoe
Photo courtesy of Classical Tahoe
A summer of classical and jazz brilliance.
Classical Tahoe returns for four magical weeks this summer, showcasing the world’s best classical and jazz musicians in incredible performances at one of America’s most incredible environments. This year’s festival will take place July 12 – Aug. 10, featuring entertainers from the world’s finest orchestras and ensembles. They include members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the LA Philharmonic, and more.
Executive Director David Pratt explains, “As the new executive director, I’ve been asking audiences, ‘What is it about Classical Tahoe that brings you back year after year?’ The answer is remarkably consistent. People tell me it’s the combination of world-class artists performing beloved music, all set against the stunning backdrop of Lake Tahoe. Classical Tahoe offers a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where community comes alive — a place to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and experience music at its finest. It’s truly the highlight of the summer.”
Commemorating its 14th season this year, Classical Tahoe will assemble 60-plus performers to wow more than 5,000 spectators from all over the world. What can you expect from this year’s event?
Nationally Recognized Performers
“The Classical Tahoe orchestra is made up of top-tier classical musicians from major North American orchestras. We kick off the orchestral season on July 25 with a powerful all-Beethoven program and wrap up three packed weeks of great music with Tchaikovsky’s epic Symphony #5 on August 9,” says Laura Hamilton, artistic director of Classical Tahoe.
But Classical Tahoe is about far more than exceptional performances in breathtaking natural landscapes. It also combines the best in education and engagement to cultivate the next generation of highly talented musicians. To achieve these goals, Classical Tahoe hosts the Brubeck Jazz Summit, Classical Tahoe Academy, Musikgarten, Family Concert & Music Maker’s Faire, and more.
Jazz Celebrations to Get Your Groove On
Mark your calendars for the Brubeck Jazz Summit (BJS ’25), July 13 – 18. It will kick off with the Brubeck Legacy Trio concert on Sunday, July 13, showcasing Chris Brubeck (trombone and electric bass), Dan Brubeck (drums), and Joe Gilman (piano), with special guests Roxy Coss (saxophone) and Lucas Pino (saxophone).
What can you expect from the BJS ’25? Chris Brubeck says it best: “We’re all shooting for the same thing, which is to provide a tremendous, unique, life-changing musical career week. We know the kids are challenged, happy, and learning. That’s our goal.”
Celebrate the best in today’s jazz scene and the brilliance of Brubeck’s music on July 17th with the Contemporary Masters Sextet. Showcasing an all-star lineup of today’s leading jazz performers, the sextet will perform a scintillating mixture of original works and Brubeck’s best.
On July 18, the Brubeck Jazz Summit returns with a side-by-side performance featuring members of the Contemporary Masters Sextet, Chris and Dan Brubeck, and participants of the 2025 Summit. These participants range in age from 15 to 18, hail from 11 states, and are emblematic of jazz’s very bright future.
“I think that it would be very clear to any audience that these are some of the best young musicians playing this music,” says Lucas Pino, co-artistic director (with Roxy Coss) of the BJS ’25. “They could be professionals in their own right. And the faculty are some of the best musicians in the world playing this music. You have the likes of jazz masters who have played with the ‘who’s who’ of jazz, all the way to the hottest stars on the scene today.”
Classical Music Comes to Life
From July 25 through Aug. 9, the Classical Tahoe Festival Orchestra takes the stage. Get ready to be mesmerized and enthralled by Beethoven Unbound on Fri., July 25, as guest conductor Eric Jacobsen and pianist Orli Shaham regale audiences with crowd favorites, including the heartfelt and passionate Piano Concerto No. 5, in E-flat Major, Op. 73 Emperor,and the rambunctious, heady Symphony No. 3, in E-flat Major, Op. 55, Eroica.
On Sat., July 26, celebrate Music in Motion with iconic dance works from beloved composers like Stravinsky, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Bach. Live performances from the Lake Tahoe Dance Collective make this a special treat, delivering up the talent of the New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, and more. Classical Tahoe musicians Donna Lee (piano), Xiao-Dong Wang (violin), and Eileen Moon (cello) will combine their musical talents for this one-of-a-kind event.
Classical Tahoe returns on Fri., Aug. 1, with Brilliance and Lyricism, featuring the works of Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Haydn. Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Emmy award-winning and Grammy-nominated conductor, will lead the orchestra with Francesca Dego on violin. On Aug. 2, Harth-Bedoya will present Virtuosos Across Time with Daniel Gilbert on clarinet. Works include Joseph Bologne’s Chevalier de Saint-Georges Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, Italian.
Virtuosic Performances to Savor
The festival culminates in two virtuosic back-to-back performances on Fri., Aug. 8, and Sat. Aug. 9. Principal guest conductor Eric Jacobsen takes the podium with special guests Sharleen Joynt (soprano) and Erik Gratton (flute). Composers featured include Mozart, Verdi, Offenbach, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Nielsen, and Tchaikovsky.
Besides these headlining events, Classical Tahoe also offers various other top-notch performances. Throughout the festival, a chamber music series promises breathtaking performances in jaw-dropping locations.
On Sun., July 27, don’t miss Beethoven and Brahms at the Ron & Maureen Ashley Oasis. Chamber music returns on Sun., Aug. 3, with the Mendelssohn Octet, and Brass & Strings on Aug. 10 steals the show with Victor Ewald’s Brass Quintet No. 3 in D-flat Major, Op.7 and Dvorak’s String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 77.
Mark Your Musical Calendars
Other highlights include Music in the Park Truckee on Wed., July 23, with an eclectic selection, from Vivaldi to The Beatles. The Academy in Concert takes the stage on Aug. 6, and educational events such as the Family Concert and Music Maker’s Faire on Aug. 9 make for a rich and rewarding experience for all ages.
Last, but certainly not least, the Classical Tahoe Gala on Sat., July 12, at the Ricardi Pavilion, University of Nevada, Reno, at Lake Tahoe is a must-attend event. Savor live entertainment, exquisite dining, and exceptional libations while reconnecting with friends and making new ones. There’s no better way to launch this year’s world-class event!
Classical Tahoe is generously supported by community partners, including Carol Franc Buck Foundation, Bently Foundation, E.L. Wiegand Foundation, Nevada Arts Council/NEA, PBS Reno, Spirit Burns Fund in the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, Whittier Trust, Ashley Quinn CPA, Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, Raley’s, and Reno Tahoe.
Can’t wait for this year’s event? Tickets are flying out of the box office, so don’t delay purchasing seats for this year’s events. For details, visit Classicaltahoe.org.
Classical Tahoe Concert Pavilion at University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe
291 Country Club Drive
Incline Village 89541
775-298-0245
For the Ron & Maureen Ashley Oasis Chamber Music Series, please see your ticket for the location address.
