INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Friday evening, Aug. 2, marked the opening of the 2013 Lake Tahoe SummerFest Orchestra Concerts, with a sold-out audience and standing ovations in the Festival Concert Tent on the grounds of Sierra Nevada College.

The enthusiastic audience response was repeated by large crowds for the Saturday Chamber Music concert and Sunday Family-friendly concert.

“We’ve already surpassed our total ticket sales for the 2012 season, and we have two more weekends in store for our audience, so we encourage concert-goers to purchase their tickets now for to ensure seating,” said SummerFest Executive Director Georgette Porter.

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Upcoming weekend concert programs are no less stellar then the opening.

Brilliant Tchaikovsky Violin Competition Winner Jennifer Koh joins Avery Fisher prize-winning pianist Benjamin Hochman on Friday, playing Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto.

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Koh will return to the stage Sunday with Mozart’s 3rd Violin Concerto. Of special interest, the Sunday performance will feature the immensely popular “Peter and the Wolf,” an audience favorite and classic orchestral story which will be narrated by McAvoy Lane.

Prior to the performances, a dining menu is available at the concert site, with specialty items available pre-concert and at intermission.

“Our audience members tell me that they are having a unique concert experience; enjoying great food and wine and then listening to these sumptuous, riveting concerts in our intimate 500 seat tent,” said SummerFest Founder Madylon Meiling. “It’s a rare combination of pleasures, equal to the beauty of the Tahoe environment.”

SummerFest concerts will continue for the next two weekends, Aug. 9-11 and Aug. 16-18, featuring the music of orchestral jazz composer and performer Chris Brubeck.

Orchestra programs are Fridays at 7 p.m., and family friendly concerts are Sundays at 4 p.m.

On Saturday at 7 p.m., chamber music concerts highlight individual orchestra members’ talents in an intimate ensemble setting, and feature ‘TalkBack’ after; a chance to ask questions of Maestro Joel Revzen and the musicians.

“Each concert is unique, and you will never hear this assemblage of musicians anywhere else in the world,” Revzen said. “Tahoe is such a pristine place, and the audience is uplifted by the combination of the landscape and the performances.”

Individual ticket prices are $75, $50, and $25. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.tahoesummerfest.org or call 775-832-1606.