Lake Tahoe Music Festival

The Lake Tahoe Music Festival is dedicated to promoting the musicians of tomorrow. It builds from the unique community found in Truckee and North Tahoe filled with musicians and music lovers and presents fun classical music shows set among the mountains, forests, and lakes of the Sierra. 

Donate now to support a rich and diverse cultural life in our community.

The Lake Tahoe Music Festival Academy Orchestra is the organization's flagship program. Every year Artistic Director Timm Rolek creates a new 26-piece ensemble filled with emerging musical talents from across the country as they transition from college to professional orchestras. He also brings celebrated soloists who not only enrich the concert performances, but also lead workshops with Academy members as they sharpen their skills. The Sunset Serenades concert series they present includes three varied and unique classical music concerts in five intimate settings amid the wonder of the Sierra. These musicians represent some of the best of their generation - alumni from the Academy Orchestra now play with the symphonies of San Antonio, Long Beach, Augusta, Santa Rosa, Missouri, Dayton, Tuscon, and LA Opera, and teach at universities in Michigan, Missouri, California, Wyoming, and Ohio.

The Lake Tahoe Music Festival is a central feature in the arts and cultural community of Lake Tahoe and Truckee, through the performances identified above, through our Classic Open Mic program, and also through pop-up concerts at schools and in the community. The $105,000 annual budget is partially funded through event ticket sales and grants, although 70% of each year’s need comes from individual donations. Giving generously now will ensure the Academy Orchestra continues to offer rich and diverse concerts.