Season 1 of PBS Reno series 'Classical Tahoe' selected for distribution by American Public Television

PBS Reno is proud to announce that Season One of its Classical Tahoe series has been picked up for national distribution by American Public Television.

PBS Reno submitted Season One of Classical Tahoe for distribution consideration by APT and last week, the station learned the series was selected for distribution to 300-plus PBS member stations beginning in May 2022.

The Classical Tahoe series features world-renowned musicians who perform orchestral music near Lake Tahoe in the summertime. The PBS Reno series premiered in 2021 and consisted of six episodes featuring a variety of performances captured in July and August, 2020. During that time, PBS Reno not only recorded six concerts, but also simultaneously provided an internet live stream utilizing eight cameras to capture a variety of angles of the musicians, the instruments, and the audience.

Season One included a world premiere of a new arrangement of a Debussy piece, along with music arranged by well-known composers including Mozart, Schubert, Fauré, Mahler and Bruch.

The ability to produce the Classical Tahoe series during a global pandemic and the ever-changing restrictions on travel and gatherings was especially meaningful to all involved.

“In 2020 there was every reason not to hold a music festival,” said Dave Santina, PBS Reno Director of Local Content and Lead Editor of the Classical Tahoe series. “The pandemic had cost the Classical Tahoe team its founder and Artistic Director, Joel Revzen; an emotionally crippling loss that, combined with the travel concerns facing the musicians and the cancellation of performances in public venues, made a 2020 Classical Tahoe festival seem an impossibility. Yet, the Classical Tahoe team was inspired to overcome every obstacle with creativity and innovation, borne from a burning desire to honor Joel Revzen and bring live music back into a world that had been placed on hold. The fact that this series exists is miraculous.”

"This beautiful PBS Reno series captures the hope, courage, and joy of Classical Tahoe finding a way to make live music during the first summer of the pandemic,” said Karen Craig, Classical Tahoe Executive Director. “We are incredibly grateful to PBS Reno for its innovative partnership and award-winning storytelling to share Classical Tahoe with public television viewers across the country."

The Classical Tahoe Festival is a celebration of classical music held each summer at Sierra Nevada University in Incline Village. 2020 was the first year Classical Tahoe and PBS Reno collaborated on the series. The Classical Tahoe series, which features a new second season that broadcast in January and February 2022 on PBS Reno, is available to stream on PBS Reno’s website.

“We are thrilled that our partnership with Classical Tahoe has resulted in this wonderful series of concerts performed by world-class musicians on the shores of Lake Tahoe has captured the attention of not only our region and now, communities across the country,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President and CEO. “Giving artists and performers a face and voice for their talents is what PBS Reno does so well. I am pleased for our talented production team who consistently turns out award-winning programs.”