Tuning up for its 26th season, the Lake Tahoe Music Festival tempts music lovers with another season of diverse musical performances from Broadway to Bach and beyond, July 17 – Aug. 9, 2008. Tickets are on sale May 1 and can be purchased online at www.TahoeMusic.org. The performances, all outside under a ceiling of stars, take place at four scenic venues throughout the North Lake Tahoe area.

The non-profit festival and its musical partner, the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, bring a full roster of talent for 2008 including bestselling artist Dave Koz, jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, music legends Dave Mason and Jim Messina, and big band Swing sensations Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, just to name a few. This season’s lineup creates new depth and diversity for the festival highlighting classic rock, jazz, big band, Broadway, acoustic world music and classical.

“The Lake Tahoe Music Festival has a long-standing tradition of bringing spectacular music to Lake Tahoe, and this year is exceptional,” Lisa Krueger, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, said. “The sheer talent in the performances offers something for everyone. More importantly, the three-week season allows us to continue our off-season support of our in-school Educational Outreach Programs. We’re anticipating a very exciting season.”

The 2008 festival venues throughout the North Lake Tahoe area include the historic Donner Lake, Tahoe Donner in Truckee, Calif., Alpine Meadows Ski Resort and its home venue, Homewood Mountain Resort.

Schedule highlights include:
• Thursday, July 17, at 7 p.m., Homewood Mountain Resort:
Opening night at the festival highlights six-time Grammy Award nominee Dave Koz. With his lush, smooth saxophone sound and impressive catalog of hits, Koz entertains with a mix of original compositions and chart-topping standards all with his contemporary jazz touch. The “Dave Koz & Friends” tours have been mainstays of the summer concert season, but this year the spotlight shines on Koz alone as he tours solo for the first time in eight years. Koz’s performance includes hits from his recent Grammy-nominated album At The Movies including Moon River, The Shadow of Your Smile and It Might be You.

• Saturday, July 19, at 7 p.m., Homewood Mountain Resort:
The season continues on a high note with the return of the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Festival maestro Timm Rolek, to its “summer home” at Lake Tahoe. The performance features The Christian Scott Quintet, highlighted by Scott’s new generation trumpet sound and eclectic mix of rock, R&B and modern jazz. Scott’s critically acclaimed 2006 debut, Rewind That, infused with rock, funk and soul, was quickly followed by 2007’s Anthem, which includes 12 tracks teeming with jazz, indie rock, neo-soul and hip-hop sensibilities. Scott’s quintet is showcased on the album, which includes drummer Marcus Gilmore, pianist Aaron Parks and electric guitarist Matt Stevens.

• Thursday, July 24, 7 p.m., Tahoe Donner:
Savor the sounds of Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Chris Botti as he performs alongside the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra with jazzed-up classics and smooth sounds. Botti, a best-selling jazz artist, has a musical tone described as both melancholy and breathtaking. His most recent album, Italia, mingles sultry and sophisticated trumpet sounds with well-known songs, including Ave Maria and The Way You Look Tonight, and vocal accompaniment with artists Andrea Bocelli and Paula Cole.

• Saturday, July 26, 7 p.m., Homewood Mountain Resort:
Playing soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, Euge Groove takes to the outdoors with a mix of catchy hooks, seductive rhythms and fiery horns. Having spent years as a session and backing band musician for artists including Tower of Power, Joe Cocker, Elton John and Aaron Neville, Groove, or Steve Grove as he’s also known, stepped out on his own with his 2000 self-titled debut and has since released four additional albums. Special guests Strunz and Farah start the evening with their world music guitar sounds and impressive blend of flamenco, folk and jazz. Fusing the cultural riches of their native lands, Costa Rica native Jorge Strunz and Iranian-born Ardeshir Farah have spent nearly 30 years creating their exotic acoustic guitar music together. Their original compositions are rich with improvisation and solidify the pair as the undisputed masters of their style.

• Thursday, July 31, 7 p.m., Alpine Meadows:
Legendary rock musician and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Mason brings classic rock hits including Feelin’ Alright and Alone Together to the festival stage. Spending more than 37 years songwriting, performing and producing some of rock music’s most classic tunes, Mason is considered by critics and audiences to be one of rock’s great guitar players. Special guests Jim Messina and Band begin the evening with a blend of country and rock that Messina has long been known for. Working with artists that include The Doors, Joni Mitchell and Buffalo Springfield, Messina was also half of the Loggins and Messina duo that swept the ’70s music scene with hits like Your Mama Don’t Dance and Angry Eyes.

• Saturday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m., Tahoe Donner:
Celebrate Broadway music during a tribute to composer Andrew Lloyd Weber and his 60th birthday. An annual audience favorite, Broadway night at the festival, backed by the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, features vocalists Rachel York, known for her noteworthy performances in the Tony Award-winning City of Angels, and Sal Viviano, who has held leading roles in Evita, Sunday in the Park with George and Beau Jest, just to name a few.

• Thursday, Aug. 7, 7 p.m., West End Beach at Donner Lake:
Get up and jive to the big band swinging sounds of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. With horns roaring, bass thumping and good times rolling, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy spurred the big band and swing revival in the ’90s combining New Orleans jazz, blues and swing. Their music pays tribute to the wellspring of American music and revitalizes a musical genre for newer generations. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has scored hits with classic cover songs as well as originals including Go Daddy-O, King of Swing and You & Me & The Bottle Makes 3. The band is joined by jazz ingénue Sophie Milman, a 24-year-old vocalist known for her smooth, come-hither voice. She performs swinging tunes like My Heart Belongs to Daddy, and The Guess Who’s Undun, as well as soulful lingering numbers including a cover of Stevie Wonder’s Rocket Love and This Time of the Year.

• Saturday, Aug. 9, 7 p.m., Homewood Mountain Resort:
Wrapping a diverse season, the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Maestro Timm Rolek, returns to the Festival’s home venue joined by renowned pianist Jeffrey Biegel for a culmination of classics. Musical selections include Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite and 1812, the 1919 version of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

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What to know
Concessions are available for each outdoor performance and picnics are encouraged. Warm clothes for layering on cool Sierra Nevada nights and low-back outdoor chairs with legs no higher than 4 inches are recommended. High-back or tall chairs may be used at the rear and far sides of venues. Chairs are also available for rent on-site at $3 each or two for $5.

Ticket prices start at $15 for lawn seating and range from $25-$30 for general seating and $50-$55 for preferred seating (subject to availability at each venue). Tickets for performances are available at www.TahoeMusic.org or may be purchased at the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce or Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, in addition to the Music Festival office located at 425 North Lake Blvd., Suite 6, in Tahoe City, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the July 24 and August 2 performances at Tahoe Donner may also be purchased at the Tahoe Donner Association.

The Lake Tahoe Music Festival concert series supports its mission of providing ongoing yearly educational outreach programs designed to enhance the education experience and provide performance opportunities for aspiring young musicians. The three-day programs are presented in area schools during the spring and fall semesters and include performances and workshops with artists including San Francisco’s Afiara String Quartet.

For tickets or more information about the 2008 season of the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, visit www.TahoeMusic.org or call 530-581-1184.

Founded in 1982 by Edgar Braun, conductor of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Lake Tahoe Music Festival presents nine concerts at five scenic venues throughout North Lake Tahoe including historic Donner Lake, Alpine Meadows Resort, Granlibakken Resort in Tahoe City, Tahoe Donner in Truckee and its new home venue, Homewood Mountain Resort.. The Lake Tahoe Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that presents quality, diverse musical experiences and creates educational and performance opportunities for aspiring young musicians. Funds for the Festival are raised through individual memberships, corporate sponsorships, grants and advertising revenues from its Festival program.