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Imagine: A warm summer evening in Tahoe. The scent of pine fills the fresh air, and glowing rays of light shine through the towering trees as the sun sets. The sounds of birds chirping, a light breeze and community members sharing memories and laughs fill the air. A short moment of stillness, followed by music. A new energy emerges, and the sounds of the strings, piano, trumpets, saxophones, violins, drums, bass and vocals fill the air, fusing perfectly with the notes of nature.
This is Classical Tahoe, a four-week immersive summer festival celebrating the exceptional talent, educational programs and sublime sounds from jazz, orchestra and chamber performances. Nestled in the forest, just minutes from the pristine Incline Village shoreline, lies the Classical Tahoe Ricardi Pavilion at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, a stunning outdoor stage that has featured some of the world’s most prolific and influential musicians and talent.
Photo above: The Brubeck Jazz Summit delights audiences with up-and-coming talent. Photo Credit: Mike Gittani, Courtesy of Classical Tahoe
Every summer Classical Tahoe features some of the country’s top musicians for a month of world-class performances, including talent from the San Francisco Symphony, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and LA Philharmonic. It offers a rare chance to see these top musicians collaborate to create a sensory blend of artistry and nature under the stars.
Photo: The bass section of the orchestra sets the beat. Photo Credit: Jeff Dow, courtesy of Classical Tahoe
The Classical Tahoe Music Festival is a nonprofit that provides education, mentorship, masterclasses, recitals and musical outreach programs to exceptional students and the community. Through programs such as the Brubeck Jazz Summit, Classical Tahoe Academy, Musikgarten and Family Concert, the Institute isable to share the gifted talent to the public, amplifying the importance of classical music in education and culture.
Now in its 14th year, Classical Tahoe is expanding and creating a larger impact in the Tahoe region and beyond. Not only has Classical Tahoe brought delightful music and entertainment to our community, they have left a lasting legacy that travels with each attendee. And, their performances are accessible worldwide via the PBS Reno Broadcast Series “Classical Tahoe.”
The impact of classical music is profound and has been shown in various studies to have positive impacts on the brain, including increasing cognitive function, decreased stress and uplifting the overall mood. In a world where we seem to be constantly overstimulated and stressed, classical music and nature seems to be the cure we have been seeking.
Photo: Chris Brubeck keeps the legacy alive at a Brubeck Jazz Summit performance. Photo Credit: Mike Grittani, courtesy of Classical Tahoe
On July 12 Classical Tahoe kicked off the summer event with the Classical Tahoe Gala, a night of live music entertainment, gourmet dining and drinks, networking and fundraising. In attendance were more than 200 distinguished community donors, sponsors and influential leaders, coming together for a night of cultural and artistic enrichment, education and socializing.
Following the Gala commenced the Brubeck Jazz Summit, a week of dynamic performances featuring pre-college jazz musicians of all instrument and voice disciplines from all over the world. Headed by Artistic Directors Roxy Coss and Lucas Pino, the Brubeck Jazz Summit is a testament to the legacy of Dave Brubeck, a pianist and composer known for his signature innovations and contrast in rhythm, rhyme and time.
The students of the Brubeck Jazz Summit have a unique opportunity to learn from some of the world’s top musicians through rehearsals, masterclasses, career development sessions and performances available to the public.
Photo: Young rising musicians perform alongside their mentors, masters of their genre, at the 2025 Brubeck Jazz Summit performances. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
I had the opportunity to attend the Brubeck Jazz Summit Finale Showcase and was blown away by how talented and professional these young musicians were. The energy was infectious. Each performance captivated the audience and, as one attendee put it, “completely restored her faith in today’s youth.” She went on to describe how lovely it was to have an evening where everyone was off their mobile devices and completely tuned in to the music and present moment. I agreed wholeheartedly.
In fact, this concert inspired me so much that I found myself researching piano lessons in the region to reconnect with a hobby and creative outlet from my youth!
Photo: A vocalist captivates the audience at the 2025 Brubeck Jazz Summit Finale. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
Over the next three weeks, Classical Tahoe will continue to feature transformative performances and community events, including Beethoven Unbound, Music in Motion, Brilliance and Lyricism, Virtuosos Across Time, and Family Concert and Music Maker’s Faire.
You can view the complete schedule here.
I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Erin Toledo, Brubeck Jazz Summit program director, and David Pratt, Classical Tahoe’s executive director, to learn more about this transformative and immersive event, what makes it such a special addition to our community and how we can become involved. Continue below to read their thoughtful responses.
Photo: A cellist performing at the orchestra. Photo Credit: Jeff Dow, courtesy of Classical Tahoe
Last week, Classical Tahoe kicked off the series with the Gala and Brubeck Jazz Summit performances. What are some of the highlights from this week?
David Pratt: The Gala was certainly a highlight from the first week. We opened the 2025 Festival with our fundraising gala supporting Classical Tahoe’s mission to present world-class performances, nurture community partnerships and provide educational programs that inspire, connect and transform lives. It was the first time we presented our gala at our home at University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, and we exceeded our goal and raised over $500k.
Erin Toledo: The Finale Showcase concert was an inspirational highlight from the first week as well. Our participants were showcased; they are ages 15 to 18 but they sound like professionals already. They were joined by our world-class faculty and Chris and Dan Brubeck, who played side-by-side with them for an inspiring multi-generational jazz showcase.
What are some of the upcoming can't-miss performances over the next three weeks?
David: The first weekend of orchestra concerts is sold out! Our Principal Clarinet Daniel Gilbert is performing Mozart’s magical Clarinet Concerto with the Classical Tahoe Orchestra on August 2; Soprano Sharleen Joynt is featured with the Classical Tahoe Orchestra in a night of beloved opera arias on August 8.
Photo: A violinist shines at an orchestra performance. Photo Credit: Jeff Dow, courtesy of Classical Tahoe
The Brubeck Jazz Summit brings together dynamic international pre-college musicians and vocalists to foster their skills and community through masterclasses, rehearsals, career development courses, mentorships and performances. How is this experience designed to inspire them in their career?
Erin: The experience is designed for the participants, ages 15 to 18, to meet and learn with their peers who are just as passionate and dedicated to jazz as they are. Some of them come from schools where they are the only jazz musician who loves it enough to pursue it. Here, they meet the friends and colleagues that they'll have for the rest of their career here at the Summit.
The educational aspect of the Summit is designed to have a small ratio of participants to faculty, so that the faculty and participants get to know each other well and the participants get to know each other well too. The faculty treats the participants like they are going to pursue jazz as a career, even if they ultimately decide not to, so they learn about what it's like to create a life as a professional jazz musician.
Photo: A performance by some of the top youth musical talent in the nation at the 2025 Brubeck Jazz Summit Finale. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
How do you hope audience members feel after attending a performance? What do you hope they take away from it?
David: The overall residing theme from patrons is “wow, the quality and level of the performances blows us away!” And, "I feel so energized and excited after a Classical Tahoe performance; it’s just so joyful.” What adds to the night is the relaxing, social aspects before and after the concerts.
What makes this outdoor venue so special? How does performing in an outdoor landscape like Lake Tahoe affect the overall energy of the event, or how the music is interpreted?
David: Hearing extraordinary music in an outdoor venue is magical. And the Tahoe environment adds even more with the sweet smell of pines and the beautiful evening sky. It only adds to the entire concert experience.
Do you notice a difference between the outdoor performances vs. the more typical indoor performances?
David: The main difference between an outdoor and indoor venue is ensuring we get the sound right in an outdoor venue.
The stunning Pavilion, surrounded by towering pines. Photo Credit: Jeff Dow, courtesy of Classical Tahoe
What are your goals as Classical Tahoe continues to expand each season?
David: We want to continue to spread the word about this festival that has made its reputation on the shared quality of the artists, musicians, conductors and composers that are part of the season each year.
We will continue to build our audience from around the region and beyond. We also present community music programs throughout the year in places like Truckee, Kings Beach and Incline Village.
How can the community become involved and support the program and musicians?
David: There are so many ways to support and get involved with Classical Tahoe. Volunteer at concerts, donate, purchase tickets to concerts, host a musician during the festival or join a committee and donate your time, advice and expertise. It takes a village!
Classical Tahoe is an immersive, sensory celebration like no other. I hope you have the chance to experience this enchanting event, just like I have, and leave inspired to pursue a creative endeavor, learn a new skill or expand your audio library. See you at the Pavilion!
Photo: An orchestral symphony captivates and inspires the audience. Photo Credit: Jeff Dow, courtesy of Classical Tahoe
For more information, visit the Classical Tahoe website.
Watch the event on PBS Reno
About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content. 
