NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Tahoe Music Alive is bringing classical chamber and jazz music to Tahoe’s north shores for another year as they kick off their fourth series of concerts, community outreach and opportunities for cultural connection. From April to September and featuring a variety of genres from Grammy-award winning and internationally-acclaimed artists, the series aims to captivate audiences of all ages spanning from Incline Village, King’s Beach and Olympic Valley to Truckee and Tahoe City.
What began as an experiment of sorts has now become a thriving nonprofit organization, growing organically since June 2023. Prior to its first launch, there were groups of classical musicians who enjoyed playing for each other and wondered whether people in Tahoe would be interested in attending chamber music concerts.
Thanks in part to the digital age and streaming platforms like Tiktok, chamber music has seen a resurgence. So what is chamber music? It’s a form of classical music which takes an intimate approach. Small ensembles of two to 10 players perform, creating a close conversation between instruments including two violins, a viola, and cello for string quartets. Chamber music can also consist of other instruments such as piano and guitar.
“I said, ‘Let’s do a prototype and see if there’s an appetite for it,'” said Martha Russell, President of Tahoe Music Alive. There was, indeed, an appetite as the prototype was wildly successful and people wanted more.
Russell then started programming concerts in spring and fall before the demand for summer concerts grew. “We’ve been listening intensively and responding to a community need, for not only the music, but for opportunities to come together as a community, especially during the off-shoulder seasons when the ski lifts are closed and the boats aren’t out on the lake yet.”
Tahoe Music Alive uses special care when selecting venues for concerts with Russell noting that among their objectives, choosing a place with great acoustics and an intimate feel helps the audience to hear every instrument played, providing crisp sounds and audibility for all.
For first time listeners, Russell encourages attendees to relax and listen for the conversation between instruments and the nonverbal conversation between musicians. “Chamber music is very special in that there is no one person directing. Together, [musicians] establish tempo (how fast they’re going to play). They establish the mood, the feeling, where they’re going to get louder, where they are softer, and the dynamics of the piece,” Russell said. “Eye contact, lift of an eyebrow, bend of an elbow or a shoulder or the way a bow moves.”
The concerts make for an exceptional experience at an extremely reasonable cost as these are some of the most talented chamber and jazz musicians from around the world who come to Tahoe to perform, including Grammy award-winning string quartets like this year’s Attacca Quartet and last year’s Catalyst Quartet.
“We celebrate them,” said Russell. “I think as people in the mountains are having access to music of this quality, the people who perform are aspiring to new levels and the people who listen are learning with new ears, and that’s wonderful.”
In addition to their concerts, Tahoe Music Alive offers community outreach programs such as master classes with advanced musicians, in-school performances, and musical dialogues in intimate settings where musicians discuss career pathways, how they formed their ensembles, opportunities to ask the musicians questions and more.
“We’re making sure that our artists go into classrooms and into other organizations to extend the benefit of their being in Tahoe,” Russell said. “Our goal, not just for the concerts, but for the community, is to optimize exposure and interaction for people who love music, especially those who want to play music.”
Tahoe Music Alive’s fourth concert series starts with the Attacca Quartet on April 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Saint Francis of Assisi in Incline Village, followed by a series launch reception at Alibi Ale Works. They will have outreach opportunities with the Attacca Quartet on April 21 at Lake Tahoe School.
On May 2, California Guitar Trio will be participating in Tahoe Music Alive’s Musical Conversations outreach at Church of the Mountains in Truckee from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. followed by a concert on May 3 at 2 p.m.
They will continue to host concerts and outreach opportunities until September featuring a variety of genres and artists.
As Tahoe Music Alive’s popularity is increasing, they have seen sold-out venues, and a thirst for more. “We’ve had standing room only sometimes,” added Russell. “It’s very gratifying to know that people love it, and they want more.”
To learn more about Tahoe Music Alive or to view their entire lineup of artists, concerts and outreach opportunities, visit https://www.tahoemusicalive.org/events.
