New leadership for Lake Tahoe SummerFest

Brad Trexell, a former Opera Colorado and San Francisco Opera administrator was appointed executive director for Lake Tahoe SummerFest (www.tahoesummerfest.org), the classical music concert series in August.

Trexell’s plans includes engaging groups that cross various spectrums to share the world’s most beautiful music in one of the world’s most spectacular settings. “Classical music moves across every genre and brings people together,” he said. “Lake Tahoe SummerFest is for seasoned concert-goers as well as people looking for an opportunity to sample it in a comfortable and unpretentious setting.

“Our series is for couples, kids, seniors, for everyone who enjoys music,” said Trexell. “We hope to engage diverse groups within the community and offer them all an opportunity to sample the timeless appeal of classical music on their own terms.”

Joel Revzen, artistic director and conductor, will lead a 40-member orchestra comprised of musicians – representing some of the most prestigious symphonies in the world. Many holding principal positions with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the philharmonics of New York and Los Angeles, the symphonies of San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas Vancouver. Now in its fourth season, the series includes nine concerts the first three weekends in August performed in an intimate 500-seat acoustical tent pavilion at Sierra Nevada College.

Trexell previously was director of artistic operations/artistic administrator at Opera Colorado in Denver from 2008-2013. He was artistic administrator at the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen from 2005-2008, working with the 30-member ensemble and artistic director Kasper Bech Holton, planning and casting upwards of 200 performances per season. From 2000-2005, he was the artistic administrator at the San Francisco Opera under general director Pamela Rosenberg.

After receiving his degree in Fine arts/Art from the university of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he began his career in production and stage management positions at the Florentine Opera of Milwaukee and as stage manager and director at Theatre Tesseract.

Trexell is a frequent judge for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and has judged several other vocal competitions, notably the Tucker Awards, the Dallas Opera Guild Competition, Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Vocal Competition, and Irene Dalis Vocal Competition.

He was introduced to classical music in elementary school through field trips to 'Kinderkconcerts' at the Milwaukee Symphony. The music emanating from the Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee and Uihlein Hall with its red velvet seats and red-carpeted lobbies with ornate chandeliers made a lasting impression.

In addition to Brad Trexell, two co-chairpersons joined the organization’s board of directors: Cynthia Joyce and Margaret Eadington. Ms. Joyce brings a 30-year history of sales/leadership success from the semiconductor industry. Ms. Eadington’s guidance with Trust for Public Land, a national conservation non-profit, will lend expertise among various groups and stakeholders.

Candace Evart and Florence Mariscal Goldby also joined the board. Ms. Evart specialized in the fiscal impact of large residential and commercial developments on local and state governments throughout Nevada and California. MS. Goldby is a career volunteer who served with the Episcopal School in New York City, Chrystal Springs Uplands School, The Giarretto Institute, and the Center for Research on Women of Stanford.

Two marketing co-chairs were appointed, Sara Lafrance and Charlotte McConnell. Ms. Lafrance co-founded and served as President of Century Analysis, Inc., a software manufacturer that provided integration solutions to commercial, industrial, and healthcare enterprises. Ms. McConnell was responsible for various aspects of IBM’s internal and worldwide data networks for 18 years, including strategy, architecture, design, development, implementation, and operations.

For a list of all board and committee members visit: http://tahoesummerfest.org

The Lake Tahoe SummerFest season begins Friday, July 31, 2015 on the campus of the Sierra Nevada College: 999 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village, Nev. For tickets and season subscriptions: www.tahoesummerfest.org.