Sand Harbor concert celebrates peace with music from around the globe

Award winning performers from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, Reno and Tahoe will grace the stage for Trails and Vistas World Concert at Sand Harbor State Park at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 6. The World Concert, an original blend of diverse musicians, aerialists and dancers, is produced by Trails and Vistas, a Truckee, CA-based nonprofit organization dedicated to producing inspiring art events in nature, in collaboration with the Truckee Tahoe Peace Project.

“Music, dance and art transcend all nationalities and are the common language that touch the heart of all people,” shares Andy Hill who runs For Goodness Sake, coordinator of the Truckee Tahoe Peace Project. “While governments and regimes may be in conflict with one another, the citizens of the world can come together to appreciate and celebrate global diversity and the richness of cultural traditions in a spirit of peace, harmony and joy.”

The concert will open with a duet by Scarlet Rivera on the Violin of Peace and Ann Licater on Native American flute. The Violin of Peace, created by artist and peace activist Patrick McCollum, is made with nearly one hundred sacred pieces from around the world. For example, the special wood used for the back was gifted by a tribe in Africa after resolving a century long conflict with another tribe. The instrument, washed and blessed in the Ganges River, was finished on the Winter Solstice.

Concert highlights include a visually dynamic show by SambaDá, the West Coast’s hottest Brazilian funk band. Emily Tessmer with Orenda Blu will weave pop melodies and chanting from indigenous cultures, and there will be folk music by Kurt Beckering. The Tsurunokai Taiko Drums, San Jose State University Symphony Orchestra, Jeff Oster, Kerry Andras, and Sean Duerr will also delight the audience. The World Concert offers even more than music. InnerRhythms Dance Theatre promises riveting performances, aerialists from Tahoe FLOW Arts Studio will twirl and spin above the stage, and artist Susie Alexander will be doing several performance paintings inspired by the evening.

“Trails and Vistas offers attendees an amazing journey around the world through music and dance,” explains Nancy Tieken Lopez, the Founder of Trails and Vistas. From annual September art hikes to the World Concert, collaboration is a key element of Trails and Vistas signature events.

Tickets, starting at $23, are available at TrailsandVistas.org.