The magic began in 2011 when Madylon Meiling shared her vision with a friend, Marna Broida of “a summer festival similar to Aspen and Tanglewood, with wonderful classical music in the majesty of Tahoe.” Marna, now Classical Tahoe Board Chair, introduced Madylon to the perfect person to explore her vision, a dear family friend of many years, conductor Joel Revzen.

A unique collaboration began — the creation of a program focused on “an orchestra and soloists of incomparable experience and artistry, to present masterpieces of classical music, surrounded by Lake Tahoe’s magnificent, natural beauty.” With Joel as Founding Artistic Director and Conductor, Madylon as Founder and Board Chair, Laura Hamilton engaging the top national orchestral musicians, a partnership with Sierra Nevada University to provide a physical home, the crucial early support from the Carol Franc Buck Foundation, and other treasured founding donors, in only 11 months, the Festival made its debut in July 2012.

In just ten years, this world-class commitment to the arts has grown from a small tent with a tree growing through it, to the beautiful Ricardi Pavilion housing the world renowned Classical Tahoe Orchestra. The Music Institute is propelling growth in education, instruction, and accessibility, due to the vision and investment from FS Foundation and others. In a new collaboration with PBS Reno, the concerts are now being streamed, televised, and viewed online by audiences worldwide, and the Brubeck Jazz Summit begins next summer, 2022.

Founder Madylon Meiling shares the excitement of Classical Tahoe musicians, audience members, and donors in this Anniversary Season, stating, “in ten years we have gone, literally, from a tent to the world, and we are very excited about the next ten years.”