Music, Movement, and Literature was designed to meet an identified need at the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe to provide music-related programs for elementary school age children.

The curriculum introduces children 4 to 7 years old to music, movement and storytelling. The 2025 program featured live musicians from the Classical Tahoe Orchestra that accompanied popular stories such as Peter and the Wolf.

Funding provided by the Community Impact Fund of the Tahoe Community Foundation.

Classical Tahoe musicians cellist Mariko Wyrick and pianist Donna Lee perform for children from the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, summer 2025.

Rita Whitaker Haun, Classical Tahoe’s Education Coordinator, reads to children from the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, summer 2025.

Left to right: Donna Lee, piano; Mariko Wyrick, cello; Rita Whitaker Haun, Classical Tahoe Education Coordinator, summer 2025. 

Music education is a powerful catalyst for personal growth, academic achievement, and a lasting sense of community. Research consistently shows that children and students involved in music programs perform better in several aspects of their lives, yet many communities, including Incline Village and the greater Tahoe Basin, offer limited or no access to quality music education due to a lack of resources.

Classical Tahoe’s Music Education Program was created to change that. Through dedicated instruction, hands-on learning, and community performances, our program gives children and students opportunities to learn, perform, and express themselves through music — all while building confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Last year alone, Classical Tahoe’s Music Education Program impacted more than 350 local children and student musicians. The vast majority participated at no cost or were awarded scholarships.