Education

Bringing the Joy of Music to All Ages

Music and education is the foundation of the Lake Tahoe Music Festival and through our Educational Outreach Program (EOP), we seek to attract younger audiences to classical music. This is accomplished through an Orchestra Academy, in-school education programs and programming for youth in the Truckee and North Lake Tahoe communities. Through its mentorship programs and other music education opportunities, the EOP aids young musicians and emerging ensembles offering training, guidance and concert presentation.

History
The Lake Tahoe Music Festival’s EOP began in 2002 under its original name The Academy.  This was a tuition-free multi-faceted program consisting of professional music instruction as well as a series of chamber music concerts open to the public.  These concerts widened the scope of the festival’s original programming creating a community outreach program that brought music into the local schools free of charge.  

An important part of The Academy’s curriculum was the element of local educational outreach. The positive impact of this programming on Tahoe communities led to a 2007 festival decision to reorganize The Academy, concentrating its energy on the kind of outreach activity that would benefit our local communities. Renamed the EOP, this program has become diverse in its outreach presentations and music training for local youth.  In 2009, the program was expanded even further to beyond our community boarders and opening up to young musicians throughout the country an opportunity for orchestra education through our Orchestra Academy program.

Orchestra Academy
This 10-day intensive paid residency program bridges the gap between college music studies and musical employment. The summer program recruits 36 of the most talented young musicians from across the country to work at the festival and receive world class training from principal players from major U.S. orchestras.

Tahoe-Truckee Youth Music Program
Filling a void of music education for elementary students, the Tahoe-Truckee Youth Music Program provides free semi-private music instruction and instruments to youth in grades three through five. High school students participate, and enhance their skills, by serving as instructors.

Free Youth Tickets Program
Each year we distribute a limited number of tickets to our local schools for young music students to attend one of our two orchestral concerts. The program, which supports our educational mission, is made possible through grant funding. To learn more, please e-mail or call the festival office directly.

Donations
Our dedication to the presentation of musical education is strong and steadfast and is only made possible through your generous contributions. We welcome your support of our EOP through contribution of your ideas and hopes for the program, volunteering at our events or by become a donor to support our worthwhile mission. Donations are 100% tax-deductible. Learn more on how you can contribute or donate directly to the program below.