TOCCATA - Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

Mission: To bring quality, affordable performances of classical orchestral and choral music to the greater Reno-Tahoe area; raise awareness and appreciation of concert music; and provide a venue for musicians to display and develop their talents.

About Us:

The Orchestra and Community Choral Artists of the Tahoe Area (TOCCATA) 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 mission is to raise awareness and appreciation of classical 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. TOCCATA's first season in 2005 was unfunded and featured unaccompanied madrigal/motet concerts and chamber music. In 2006 TOCCATA received its first grant from the Carol F. Buck Foundation, which led to TOCCATA's official debut at Sand Harbor with the 25th John Lennon Memorial Concert. In 2007 funding increased as more individuals and local foundations began to demonstrate their belief in TOCCATA's future and appreciation of its amazing quality. Our 2008 Charter Membership Drive helped TOCCATA reach additional lakeside communities as well as Reno. In 2009 TOCCATA presented its first performances of symphonic works and the name, Tahoe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, was created to identify this larger ensemble. TOCCATA's growth in its six year lifespan has been notable. With mostly word of mouth advertising and an occasional mention in the "weekend-what-to-do-list" we have attracted many of the area's music lovers and a remarkable number of talented musicians to join us in appreciating and producing some of the world's most beautiful music. Audiences everywhere are responding and TOCCATA has seen gratifying growth in attendance, enthusiasm and ticket sales. September 2011 marked the beginning of TOCCATA's new outreach, the Tahoe Symphony Youth Orchestra. The mission of TOCCATA-Tahoe Symphony Youth Orchestra (TTSYO) is to provide the children of the Tahoe community with an educational orchestral experience, learning and performing classical music alongside of their peers, and to also give them the opportunity to participate in concerts with the TOCCATA-Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.