When my husband and I retired and moved to Nevada City in 2015, we didn't know anyone in the community. We were told about an upcoming concert featuring the famous violinist, Joshua Bell. We were surprised and delighted that InConcert Sierra hosted such world class musicians in this small community! The 3rd Sunday afternoon concerts are always high quality performances of classical music in an intimate venue. We have made many new friends by attending concerts, after-concert inners, and other ICS events. See you at a future concert!
Denis & Barbara Drew
InConcert Sierra is a community treasure. This non-profit sponsors and brings incredible live chamber type classical music to our community, when not impacted by Covid.-19. InConcert Sierra is host also to the Sierra Master Chorale, a 60+ voice ensemble providing uplifting and splendidly crafted choral performances during the Christmas Holiday Season and in the late Spring. InConcert sponsors a program that allows young musicians and composers to learn about and compose great music, which is then performed by professional musicians. The challenges of Covid-19 has changed how InConcert does things, but it has not dimmed InConcert’s favorable impact on the our Community. We cannot do the live music we love, but InConcert has found and provides some critical new pathways to keep classical music alive in our community. Thanks InConcert Sierra, you make our lives a lot better by your presence in our community
In 1997 I began working for this amazing organization... 23 years later I am still energized by the music, the mission, the people! The friendships and memories I have made throughout are countless and invaluable. This organization touches so many lives with its mission through our great classical performances and exceptional youth and adult education programs. To do it all over again would be a dream come true! I look forward to leading this organization, with an outstanding cast of board and committee members, staff, and musicians, to a successful post-COVID existence!!
InConcert Sierra is truly a jewel in our community. The organization is dedicate to bringing the best musical performances to Nevada County. While they have had to suspend live performances during the pandemic, they are now offering wonderful performances using available technology. Beyond the concerts the organization has an amazing education program working with young people. One of its amazing programs is the composers program working with you people who aspire to become composers. The music produced by these students is incredible. The work of InConcert Sierra truly enhances the quality of life in our community.
Rural communities always struggle to find classical music but not Nevada County. We are enriched through the presence of InConcertSierra. This organization brings world class artists to the community. They offer free admission to children and once a year host a concert for all third graders.
Their orchestra and Master Chorale provide a venue for local musicians to perform this encouraging musicians to seriously consider moving to Nevada County.
InConcertSierra is a gem!
Twelve years ago, I started singing with InConcert Sierra’s Sierra Master Chorale. I am fortunate to live in a small community with an abundance of artists and musicians so I had a choice of musical organizations to join. InConcert Sierra was the obvious choice for me. Ken Hardin, the Artistic director, Julie Hardin, the Executive Director, and everyone involved with InConcert Sierra are warm. welcoming caring individuals. The Chorale I joined felt like family and became an important part of my life. I joined the board three years ago and I’m proud to be a part of this great organization. During the pandemic, the Board decided to ask our donors to focus on safety net organizations in the community instead of giving to InConcert. We wanted to support the community during this emergency. InConcert has warm relationships with our patrons and makes sure that they know we are thankful for their support.
Because they also have a great reputation in the international community of artists, they are able to bring world class, live classical music performances to this small foothill community in the mountains. I support them not only because of the great music and educational opportunities they provide, but because of their commitment to be a service to the community.
Our little town in the Northern California foothills is able to attract world-class musical performers time after time for amazing, intimate, and acoustically wonderful concerts due to the good work of InConcert Sierra. What a pleasure and what a blessing to enjoy the beauty and wonder of great classical music in a comfortable venue just minutes from home! Keep it up InConcert Sierra!
I've served on the ICS board for 2+ years, and I've never been part of a harder working team of people who understand and execute our mission to "present exceptional classical and choral performances that inspire and enhance our cultural life, and provide educational opportunities for youth and adults". Our constituency is very appreciative of this, and feel part of the ICS family.
InConcert Sierra has earned a faithful following of classical music patrons by presenting an exceptional chamber music series performed by world-class musicians, as well as, astounding orchestral concerts featuring local and regional players and the Sierra Master Chorale. We offer as impressive range of education programs for youth and adults of all ages including in-school performances for grades K-12, an annual third-grade concert experience, recital programs, collaborative summer music series with the Nevada County Library for all ages, "Music on Wheels" senior living concerts, free concert tickets for youth and a program for scholarships and instrument loans.
After an Education Director was hired in 2019, our educational program significantly expanded to include The Composers Project class taught by Mark Vance. He offered weekly individual lessons in music composition to students ranging in age from 12-25, as well as group classes. The curriculum included music theory, harmony rhythmic exercises, music history, listening, ear training, conducting and solfege. The students learned to use Finale software notation. For inspiration, the students collaborate with another local non-profit each school year. The 2019-20 class experienced farming with Sierra Harvest visiting Food Love Farm and the Johansen Farm to glean butternut squash for donations to Hospitality House and Interfaith Food Ministry. They also attended Sierra Harvest’s Food and Farm Conference. InConcert Sierra unveiled the music by hiring professional musicians to perform the students’ compositions. The students had composed for voice and one instrument for the first concert. Their final composition written for small ensembles was performed by professional musicians and filmed for streaming on YouTube, Facebook and the InConcert Sierra website.
After many years of living in Berkeley and enjoying first class music at Davies Hall in San Francisco, we moved to Nevada City in 2010 and had resigned ourselves to leaving classical music behind. To our surprise and joy, we found InConcert Sierra and have become dedicated fans and supporters of this absolute gem. We've actually seen many artists here that we saw originally at Davies Hall. The caliber of performers and the quality and variety of the programs are top notch and we will be season ticket holders for life!
I have attended many wonderful concerts produced by InConcert Sierra over the past 20 years. I am always impressed by the high caliber of their musicians, the luscious sounds in their acoustically wonderful space, and the camaraderie displayed by the organization and their patrons. InConcert Sierra is truly a highly respected community arts nonprofit.
I have had the honor of singing with the Sierra Master Chorale since its formation over 10 years ago. That perspective allowed me to learn what a great and broad foundation this organization has. InConcert Sierra is very well managed and fiscally responsible. I love the education they provide children as well. Attend just one concert and you will be drawn into a most fabulous community!
In Concert Sierra has done a very important service in this day and age: bringing classical music to a new generation of children. Yes, most of the concerts they hold are attended by a more mature audience; but, the outreach they offer to local third grade classrooms has sparked a great interest in classical music for children who otherwise may never have heard anything but current radio favorites. The board is passionate about bringing enriching music to the entire community and dedicates their time and resources to accomplish that.
Since moving to the area 15 years ago, and finding InConcert Sierra (then Twin Cities Concert Association), I feel like I've been a "part of the family." From the very first concert I attended, I've felt valued and nourished by the organization and by the music. This organization brings world-class musical artists to our semi-rural community, and has them perform in a local church with superb acoustics. The audience size is never more than 500 or so, and we always get the opportunity to meet and talk with the performers. In addition to the concert artists, InConcert Sierra provides opportunities for children to experience music in many forms, including concerts specifically for 3rd graders, composition classes, scholarships, and more. InConcert Sierra is a "class act" in every way, and I'm proud to be a long-term season ticket holder and supporter.
InConcert Sierra brings the world's greatest classical music artists to a small community, helping everyone learn to appreciate quality musical performance. They present concerts in the most friendly, approachable way. Artists and audience continually express deep appreciation for the experiences.
InConcert Sierra is a 74 year old, well-managed, fiscally sound organization that presents world class classical chamber, vocal and solo musicians, educational programs for children and adults, and brings gorgeous musical life to our rural community. Even though our county has less than 100,000 population, our monthly Sunday afternoon concerts fill the venue (500 people) and attract interest to perform from internationally known musicians and their agents. We have hosted Joshua Bell, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Emanual Ax, VOCES8, and many other outstanding musicians. Our audience members know and love good music, and they know that their donations will be well and frugally managed to benefit the musical needs and education of the community. InConcert Sierra feels like a family to many attendees because of its warm, embracing attitude and the inclusive nature of its programs, staff and board members. I joined the board of InConcert Sierra because I already appreciated and was proud of the organization. Now that I'm on the board, I'm even more proud that I can represent a responsible, creative, educational, warm, inclusive and well-managed classical music non-profit that brings joy to our community and the many other people who travel to our area to experience wonderful music.
The world-class classical musicians that InConcert Sierra brings to Nevada County is one of the major reasons I moved to this area. I have heard better concerts here than during my time attending the best concert halls in New York and San Francisco. There is no doubt that InConcert Sierra has made Grass Valley part of the world stage and this has added incredible value to our cultural life and community. The high quality of music is presented in a most congenial, warm, friendly and intimate atmosphere that makes the concert experience truly moving and satisfying. In addition, their educational and outreach programs, bringing music beyond the concert hall to all ages -- from young families to the elderly in senior and assisted living facilities -- makes InConcert one of our most valuable community treasures. I am a donor, and joined their Board to help as much as I can support this amazing organization.
Best classical musical experiences with superb artistry in a great, comfortable acoustic venue. Wonderful and warm people involved in presenting their programs.
InConcert Sierra - I have been involved with this organization for 20 years and cannot sing enough praises for it! InConcert brings fabulous and famous classical musicians to this community on third Sundays and In my time has grown the audience numbers from 25 to sometimes 500 enthusiastic people! The concert experience is inspirational and educational, and the artists are so well treated that almost every one of them want to return. Every member of the board loves music and is dedicated to offering this extraordinary gift to the community. Patrons are highly valued and personally welcomed at every event. Donors enjoy special events always centered around music and concert sponsors are given the extra treat of having a post-concert dinner with the artists. It is an exceptionally well-run organization with a competent Executive Director and an Artistic Director who has invaluable connections to the larger music world. This organization also recognizes the value of musical education for children and adults and not only puts on a concert yearly for 500 third graders In Nevada County but offers many other educational programs like a Composers Project and pre-concert interviews. In short, this is a first-rate nonprofit who deserves all of the accolades It receives!