Elko Community Concert Association

     In 1946, Elko joined a nationwide cultural movement. Across America, small towns were organizing Community Concert Associations, linked through Columbia Concerts, Inc., to bring world-class performers to local stages. With the guidance of Columbia’s regional director, David Ferguson, Elko’s citizens launched their own association. Under the leadership of Elko High School music director A.C. Converse, Rev. James W. Baird, Mrs. M.B. Badt, Mrs. Oscar Upwall, and John Tellaisha, the Elko Community Concert Association (ECCA) was officially born.

     The first year was filled with determination. Organizers hosted informal recitals at the Elko High School music hall, featuring student choruses, soloists, and a newly formed string quartet: Mrs. John Tellaisha (violin), Mrs. Myron Stahl (violin), John Tellaisha (viola), and A.C. Converse (cello). These programs showcased local talent while rallying the community around the idea of building a concert association. At the same time, Tellaisha also stepped into an administrative role as co-chairman of appointments, helping to recruit workers and volunteers for the membership drive. This combination of artistry and leadership made him one of the key figures in ECCA’s formative years.

     By May of 1946, the Association’s membership drive had succeeded beyond expectation — every available membership was sold. That fall, the promises became reality: Walter Cassel, a Metropolitan Opera baritone, opened the inaugural season. Soon after, audiences welcomed Angel Reyes, a Cuban violinist of international acclaim, followed by soprano Helen Jepson, another Metropolitan Opera star. For the first time, Elko residents had the opportunity to hear artists of global stature in their own high school auditorium.

     Through the late 1940s and 1950s, ECCA carried forward this vision, presenting concerts that connected rural Nevada to the broader world of classical and popular music. Membership remained the lifeblood of the association — once a year, community volunteers canvassed door-to-door, ensuring enough subscriptions to bring in the next season’s talent. Elko’s audiences were thrilled by the variety, which included opera singers, string ensembles, pianists, and vocal groups, all made possible by a shared investment in culture.

     However, by the 1960s and early 1970s, challenges began to emerge. Nationally, television and shifting entertainment habits weakened Community Concert membership drives. Locally, Elko faced its own setback in 1971 when a fire disrupted activities. For several years, the association went silent.

The silence ended in 1979, when Elko residents Bill and Ann Nisbet revived the Association. With new energy and the recently built Elko Convention Center as a venue, the ECCA entered a second golden era. The opening season was ambitious: the Gene Krupa & His Orchestra brought the sounds of the Big Band era, Broadway legend John Raitt starred in a solo concert, and the renowned piano duo Whittemore and Lowe closed the series. Once again, world-class performers were traveling to Elko, and the community responded with enthusiasm. Lorena Moren, one of the Association’s original 1946 members, was honored as the Convention Center’s auditorium was later named for her, linking past and present.

     For more than four decades, the Nisbets shepherded ECCA through changing times, expanding programming to include not just classical repertoire but also jazz, folk, and crossover acts. Their dedication ensured that Elko remained a stop on national tours well into the 21st century. Each year, new generations of students are invited to attend, keeping the tradition alive.  

     Today, the Elko Community Concert Association proudly continues its work, now performing in the modern Elko High School Performing Arts Auditorium, which opened in 2021. From its first recitals in a modest music hall to its present-day concerts in a state-of-the-art venue, ECCA has survived and thrived for nearly 80 years. Its history reflects a simple but powerful truth: even in a small Nevada town, a community united in purpose can bring the world’s music to its doorstep.

For nearly 80 years, the Elko Community Concert Association has brought the world’s music to Elko’s doorstep. This tradition has endured because of community support — people just like you who believe live music matters. Keep the legacy alive. Join today and secure your season pass.