Tahoe Philharmonic Presents “We Remember” – A 9/11 Memorial Concert Series Honoring Service, Unity, and Reflection

 The Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus proudly presents We Remember, a powerful 9/11 memorial concert series that honors the lives lost, the bravery of first responders, and the enduring spirit of service in our Northern Nevada communities.

This year’s program features Mozart’s Requiem, one of the most profound and spiritually intense choral works ever written to honor the dead. A Requiem—from the Latin requies, meaning “rest”—is a musical setting of the Catholic Mass for the dead, traditionally performed to remember and reflect. Mozart’s Requiem expresses grief, reverence, and transcendence through its unforgettable choral and orchestral writing.

Also featured is Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, a Romantic-era favorite known for its emotional lyricism and dramatic flair. The concerto will be performed by acclaimed guest violinist Jennifer Choi on the world-renowned “Firebird” Stradivarius, made in 1718. Its sweeping melodies and expressive beauty offer a moving contrast to the solemnity of the Requiem.

History of the 9/11 Memorial Concert 

 In the wake of 9/11, Maestro James Rawie was deeply moved to honor first responders through music. On September 11, 2002, he led the Puerto Rico Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra in three memorial performances of Brahms’ Requiem in San Juan, Ponce, and Guaynabo—concerts that also featured Beethoven’s immortal Fifth Symphony.

Maestro Rawie went on to found TOCCATA Tahoe Symphony in Lake Tahoe in 2006, where he continued the 9/11 Memorial Concert tradition for 19 consecutive years, beginning with Mozart’s Requiem. In 2024, Rawie founded the Tahoe Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, and now carries forward the tradition with this new ensemble. Each year, Maestro Rawie selects from among the four great Requiems—by Brahms, Verdi, Fauré, and Mozart.

For 2025, the first full season of Tahoe Philharmonic and the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, he has once again chosen Mozart’s Requiem.

Concert Dates & Locations:

• Sunday, September 7, 4 PM – Reno Christian Fellowship, Reno
  
• Wednesday, September 10, 7 PM – St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Incline Village
  
• Friday, September 12, 7 PM – St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, Reno
  
• Sunday, September 14, 4 PM – St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Reno
  

We offer free admission as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude to those who dedicate their lives to the safety, health, and well-being of our community. From emergency personnel to medical teams, and from military members to veterans, these individuals embody courage, selflessness, and service. This concert series—rooted in remembrance and reflection—is our way of saying thank you.

“The 9/11 memorial concert is a tribute not just to memory, but to community,” says Debbie Sessions, soprano soloist. “Through music, we reflect, heal, and come together.”

Tickets and more information: www.tahoe-philharmonic.com