Tennille captains arts promotion for state

When Toni Tennille and her husband Daryl Dragon, "The Captain," played their first gig at Lake Tahoe in the 1970s, she was so taken with the beautiful surroundings, she declared, "Oh, we've got to live here someday!" But the couple, who moved to northern Nevada in 1984 after scoring more than a dozen hits on the pop charts as Captain & Tennille, never would have set down roots here had it not been for the area's arts community, Tennille said.

Here they found a rich pool of talented musicians, artists and performing groups.

Yet many people outside the state don't know about Nevada's arts scene - a perception Tennille wants to change as the state's ambassador for the arts.

"There's still a perception out there that you come to Nevada just to gamble.

People still ask me, 'Do they have any arts in Nevada?'" Getting the word out is important because companies want to locate in areas with a high quality of life, Tennille said.

Today the arts have the potential to play a huge role in the local economy as a growing number of firms consider moving here.

Appointed ambassador for the arts by Gov.

Bob Miller and reappointed by Gov.

Kenny Guinn, Tennille talks up Nevada arts whenever she tours.

In the last 20 years, Tennille has performed jazz standards with top symphonies around the country, and in 1998 and 1999 she starred in the first national tour of the Broadway musical, "Victor/Victoria." She said big assets in northern Nevada include the new Nevada Museum of Art, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Nevada Opera, the University of Nevada, Reno, and festivals such as Artown.

To broaden its scope, she said, northern Nevada could use some jazz clubs and a bigger venue to attract larger shows.

Performing arts groups, such as the Chamber Orchestra, can always use help with corporate sponsorships, meanwhile, and art and music education in schools deserves strong support, she said.

Tennille will appear in a benefit concert, "An Intimate Evening With Toni Tennille" for the Reno Chamber Orchestra at 8 p.m.

Nov.

15 at Nightingale Concert Hall on the University of Nevada, Reno campus.

She will sing classic jazz standards and show tunes accompanied on piano by jazz musician Matt Catingub, with a special appearance by Dragon.

Reno bassist Hans Halt will also play.