Our Mission

The mission of TOCCATA is to raise awareness and appreciation of Classical Orchestral and Choral music by bringing quality, affordable performances to the greater Reno-Tahoe area, and to provide a venue for accomplished musicians to display and develop their talents. For most of our Concerts, we take our music “to the people” instead of having them drive to and from Reno. Many in our audience are seniors and find it difficult to get to Reno from Tahoe and Carson Valley, especially in the winter when they would have to cope with ice and snow and early onset of darkness. They are grateful to have this music available “in their backyard”. In addition to providing accessible classical music to the public, we are able to offer approximately 160 artists the opportunity to perform with a high quality ensemble. Most are adults who have a passion for performing classical music and lack a forum in which to so do. Some players have even contacted the conductor before moving to the area to assure that they would, in fact, have a group with which to perform. We also support young artists who are able to have their first experience of playing with a quality orchestra, together with many of their professional music teachers. We and our donors have raised funds to send many young people to the Luzerne Summer Music Camp, where they are able to immerse themselves in Music with their peers for several weeks. A local children’s Chorus, the North Lake Tahoe Children’s Choir, has also performed with us twice in 2017, and again in 2018.

Our History

'The Orchestra and Community Choral Artists of the Tahoe Area' was founded in 2005 by James and Nancy Rawie as a 501(c)(3) non-profit musical arts organization based at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. TOCCATA’s first season was unfunded, and featured madrigal/motet concerts and chamber music. In 2006 TOCCATA received a grant from the Carol F. Buck Foundation which led to an official debut at Sand Harbor with the 25th John Lennon Memorial Concert. A 2008 Charter Membership Drive helped reach additional lakeside communities and Reno, and in 2009 the name Tahoe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus was created to identify an ensemble regularly performing major symphonic works. Growth in our thirteen year lifespan has been notable. TOCCATA invites all our donors, performers and audience members to join us in celebrating our 13 th Anniversary throughout 2018. We are also completing plans for our 2019 European Tour with Elizabeth Pitcairn. If you are interested in taking part, do not delay to contact us - we have only a few remaining "open spots" for the Tour.