Backed by a 13-piece big band, Cole’s silky vocals are set to fill the mountain air with hits she’s recorded from the American Songbook along with so many of her own songs. She strives for a beauty and mystique in the songs she performs and also for, as she says, “lyrics and melodies that touch you and soothe you, appealing to your intellectual side, but most of all, appealing to your heart.”

Read the L.A. Times Concert Review from September 2009

With 24 albums under her belt and more than three decades in music’s limelight Cole has appealed to many people’s hearts. Elegant, sophisticated and often times nostalgic, her music is powered by vocal dexterity and an intimate and knowing way with lyrics and melody. Her versatility has led to a diverse list of No. 1 hits including “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love),” “Inseparable,” “Our Love,” “I’ve Got Love On My Mind,” “Pink Cadillac” and “Miss You Like Crazy,” just to name a few.

Read Natalie’s biography.

Watch Cole sing “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” at the White House.

 
Natalie Cole Discography (Click on the links to listen and watch video.)
Let’s Talk About Love, 2009
Still Unforgettable, 2008
Leavin’, 2006
Ask A Woman Who Knows, 2002
Greatest Hits Vol. 1, 2000
The Magic of Christmas, 1999
Snowfall on the Sahara, 1999
Celebration of Christmas, 1996
Stardust, 1996
Holly & Ivy, 1994
Take A Look, 1993
I’ve Got Love on My Mind, 1992
Unforgettable: With Love, 1991
Good to Be Back, 1989
Everlasting, 1987
Dangerous, 1985
I’m Ready, 1983
Happy Love, 1981
We’re the Best of Friends, 1979
I Love You So, 1979
Natalie Live, 1978
Unpredictable, 1977
Thankful, 1977
Natalie, 1976
Inseparable, 1975

About the Venue
This year we’re bringing some of our concerts to a new venue at Northstar-At-Tahoe^TM Resort, mid-mountain in a gently sloping bowl and overlooking a breathtaking view of mountains and valley below. We hope you enjoy this scenic addition to our concert locations.

Auditions continue through March 15, and selected finalists will be named April 15. Students will study and rehearse for 10 days in this intensive program designed to provide real-world experience and musical instruction by principal players for major U.S. orchestras including Ariana Ghez and Jerry Grossman. The orchestra will also perform at two of the festival’s summer concerts and several additional concerts in the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee areas.

The students participate in a 10-day program that bridges the gap between college music studies and musical employment. Participating musicians will live at Granlibakken Resort in North Lake Tahoe to rehearse and learn with professionals prior to performing two Lake Tahoe Music Festival concerts and at smaller venues throughout the region.

Principal players drawn from major U.S. orchestras participate in the Academy as instructors, teaching master classes and soloists, coaching student musicians and serving as professional mentors through career planning classes.

Auditions will be conducted through YouTube videos, and applications will be accepted starting in January 2010. Watch for more details coming soon.

As this year comes to an end, we want to take the opportunity to thank all of our staff, board members, donors, volunteers and attendees for helping to make our 2009 Lake Tahoe Music Festival one of the most successful seasons yet. Our diverse line up of performances, including classic rock, smooth jazz, classical and Broadway brought returning and new attendees to the shores, hillsides and wide open venues throughout North Lake Tahoe and Truckee for an unforgettable summer experience.     

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you July 22 to August 7, 2010!   

Click on any of the images to view photo galleries from our 2009 summer concert series.  

Huey Lewis and The News, Old Greenwood, (c) Rob Retting 

    Boz Scaggs, Old Greenwood, (c) Rob Retting  

   Orchestra Finale, Homewood Mountain Resort, (c) Rob Retting     

2009 Opening Gala, Brushwood Estate       

2009 Benefactor’s Party, Martis Camp, (c) Jamie Kingham    

In addition to the grand prize drawing, which is February 14, 2010, the promotion has several drawings leading up to it to award vacation packages, cash and even a new car. The first of the preliminary drawings was at the festival’s August 1 Boz Scaggs concert.

Proceeds from the raffle will help the nonprofit, Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, to enrich the quality of life in the Truckee/North Lake Tahoe region through cultural, environmental, educational and charitable pursuits. The Lake Tahoe Music Festival receives grant funding from the foundation which supports the festival’s ongoing Educational Outreach Programs.

Enter to win.

Patrons enjoying the Festival at Homewood.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Lake Tahoe Music Festival staff, we’d like to say a big “Thank you!” to all of our sponsors, donors, members, volunteers, vendors and community supporters who helped us with another unforgettable season. Thanks to your commitment and hard work this Lake Tahoe tradition continues each year. This season we celebrated three weeks of amazing music, including several sell-out performances, combined with the unmatched beauty of our region. Thank you again for all of your support and patronage.

We are able to bring our annual festival to life because of our many corporate as well as individual supporters.  By becoming a member of the Festival, you support our year-round efforts including our Educational Outreach Programs that brings music instruction and other learning opportunities to aspiring students throughout our area. Learn more about becoming a donor, sponsor or volunteer for the 2010 Festival.

Kachian performs throughout the world collaborating with several of the West’s finest conductors and since 1986 has performed in Italy, Austria, Cuba and North and South America.  He has also performed with three German orchestras and directed one of the largest guitar programs in the U.S. as a professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.  Alongside Kachian is the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, a perennial Festival favorite led by Rolek, comprised of more than 60 professional musicians and travelling throughout the region performing at a number of different venues.

Tickets are just $25 general admission or $50 preferred. To reserve tickets or for more information about the Lake Tahoe Music Festival log on to www.TahoeMusic.org or call 530-583-3101.

Each year the repertoire for our Broadway Night at the festival is eagerly anticipated, and after last season’s sell-out performance, this year is no different.  But, the wait is over! 

Our Broadway Night features the music of the celebrated duo Rodgers and Hammerstein with selections from some of their most beloved musicals.  Selections include “Oklahoma,” and “Oh What A Beautiful Mornin’” from “Oklahoma!” and “Climb Every Mountain” and “Lonely Goatherd” from “The Sound of Music.” 

There’s much more on the agenda for Broadway Night, but we can’t reveal it all.  Join us for what’s slated to be one of the festival’s most dynamic performances this year.

This year the festival’s Broadway Night is July 30 at Tahoe Donner.  We’re bringing back the star power and incredible vocals of Rachel York and Sal Viviano, both stars of Broadway, film and television, and throwing in musical accompaniment by the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra.

Listen to audio clips from “The Sound of Music”

Listen to “O What A Beautiful Mornin’”

Listen to “Oklahoma”

Learn more about Rachel York and Sal Viviano including audio and video clips.

Although the five members of The Sun Kings don’t look like John, Paul, George or Ringo, their covers of Beatles songs from throughout the Fab Four’s recording career are uncanny.  Harking back to the early days of the Beatles, before their U.S. invasion and mop-tops, The Sun Kings’ performances are reminiscent of the joy and excitement of the original Beatles concerts.  The Bay Area band’s repertoire includes more than 100 Beatles songs from “Strawberry Fields Forever” to “I Should Have Known Better.”

It all takes place at a private estate on the west shore of Lake Tahoe and is the official kick off of our summer concert season.  It’s also our way of saying thank you to our donors and encouraging new patrons  while raising money for the non-profit Festival and its Education Outreach Programs. The festive event includes “Quiet” and “Lively” auctions along with hors d’ oeuvres, complimentary champagne and wine, no-host bar and seated gourmet dinner. 

Donors at the $1,500 level are guaranteed seats, and a limited number of individual tickets are available for $250.  Learn more at www.TahoeMusic.org.