The Joy Foundation and Tahoe Joy Festival proudly announce that the

Tahoe Truckee School of Music will be the 2025 beneficiary of the 3rd annual Tahoe Joy Festival. A portion of the proceeds raised at the music festival will contribute to the school’s mission, allowing them to spread joy through music across North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. The free Tahoe Joy Festival is set to take place on Sunday, June 8, from 12 pm to 7 pm at Commons Beach in Tahoe City, showcasing local musicians, artists, and community nonprofits along with an exciting lineup on the Community Stage.

Ben Martin, Executive Director of Tahoe Truckee School of Music (TTSM) said, “Being the beneficiary of the Tahoe Joy Festival will provide financial support to TTSM so that we can offer more services to the community to learn and share music.”

For 15 years, TTSM has worked to fulfill their mission to ‘cultivate life skills and community through music for all ages, regardless of experience, ability, or financial resources’ in the Tahoe-Truckee area. They offer lessons for youth and adults including Music Foundations, Rock Band and Song Group and resources such as Instrument Loan, Recording Studio, and a Community Performance Booking Service.

TTSM student Jasmine Shick said of her five years at the school, “Learning how to read music, improvise, play an instrument, and conduct yourself in front of people even when things go wrong, has helped me in lots of different aspects of my life; it can really help you to think out of the box and look at new ways to learn and explain things.”

According to Martin, donations from the Tahoe Joy Festival will specifically help TTSM’s free instrument loan program, scholarships for lessons, student performances, and a new venture with Tahoe Truckee Unified School District that brings music learning to 2,000 Tahoe-Truckee students.

“The Tahoe Joy Festival stands out more than most other summer concerts in Tahoe because it offers a full day of free music, while also donating proceeds to a local nonprofit each year,” said Matt Axton, Tahoe native and founder of the new Joy Foundation and Tahoe Joy Festival. “We really want to emphasize that this is a benefit music festival, aiming not only to support regional musicians and artists but to also raise money for amazing community nonprofits like the Tahoe Truckee School of Music.”

TTSM will once again host the Community Stage of aspiring musicians from the school. The Community Stage lineup includes Jasmine Shick, Coco & Eliot, Jonathan Hennion and one more soon to be announced.

Coco Lowe, a TTSM alumna whose duo Coco & Eliot graced the Tahoe Joy Festival Community Stage in 2024, is scheduled to perform again this year. She said, “Performing at the Tahoe Joy Festival is an opportunity to share my love of music with my community in front of one of the most beautiful backdrops anywhere.” Lowe continued, “This year holds particular significance as it will be one of my final performances with my brother before he heads off to college.”

Martin expressed that having TTSM students, both young and adult, performing the Community Stage provides them with the opportunity to highlight their talents to the broader community, outside of the school setting, and in front of a significant audience. He mentioned that this opportunity allows the community to hear young performers and professionals they might not usually encounter, inspiring both children and adults to pursue music learning. In 2024, the Tahoe Joy Festival had more than 2,500 attendees.

Regarding TTSM’s collaboration with the Tahoe Joy Festival, where it serves as both a beneficiary and host of the Community Stage, Martin stated, “Ultimately, it’s about values: spreading joy and sharing music.”

Support from sponsors, volunteers, and donations is essential in keeping the festival free for everyone. All net proceeds will be distributed to TTSM. To get involved or learn more: https://joyfoundations.org/tahoefest/participate