Resonance: A Health and Wellness Retreat for Musicians
Join a supportive community of musicians for two days of professional presentations from health and wellness experts at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe.
July 10-11, 2026
About Resonance
Resonance, hosted by the Nevada Center for Musician Health and Wellness (NCMHW), is a two-day retreat designed to help musicians strengthen their artistic practice through evidence-based wellness strategies. Open to students and musicians of all levels, the retreat features twelve presentations and workshops led by respected Reno-area professionals in fields such as mindfulness, nutrition, exercise, music therapy, psychology and counseling. Through these expert-guided sessions, participants will explore research-informed approaches to cultivating artistic resilience, sustaining creative longevity and developing a more compassionate, grounded relationship with their musical identities.
Event information and registration
Find location details, event schedule, speakers and registration information.
Resonance scholarship
There is a limited number of scholarships available for the Resonance Retreat. Please complete the form by May 8, 2026.
Scholarship will be awarded by May 15, 2026.
Contact us
If you have questions or would like additional information about the event, please contact Kevin Miescke.
University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe
The University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe is located less than one mile from one of the most stunning tourist destinations in the world – Lake Tahoe, and is at the center of the unique and vibrant community of Incline Village, Nevada. Students, faculty and visitors have endless access to outdoor recreation, dining, community events and more.
Meet the Co-Directors of Resonance
Frequently asked questions
No. While Resonance is being hosted at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, the retreat is open to musicians from any background. Many attendees are independent musicians, recent graduates or creatives navigating music outside of traditional academic settings.
Yes! We have a limited number of full and partial scholarships that will be awarded based on the scholarship application. These applications will be evaluated based on need, and the deadline to submit the application is May 1, 2026. Scholarships will be awarded via email by May 8, 2026.
Both full and partial scholarships will subsidize tuition, lodging and food.
Please reach out to kmiescke@unr.edu with additional questions.
We have designed Resonance to be an immersive, high-value experience that combines expert-led sessions, community and a unique retreat setting. All attendees will be able to attend twelve hours of professional presentations and workshops across the two days, with additional opportunities for follow-up questions and conversations with presenters.
We offer two ticket options at different price points:
- Full Overnight tickets: This includes on-site accommodation at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe for the night of Friday, July 10, allowing you to stay fully immersed in the retreat experience without having to arrange lodging and transportation during the event. This ticket also includes one dinner on Friday, July 10, and breakfast on Saturday, July 11.
- Single Occupancy: $240
- Double Occupancy: $225
- Day Camper tickets: These tickets are for those who prefer to stay at home or with friends in the Reno-Tahoe area. (Please note: Lodging in Incline Village in July is scarce and very expensive. If you wish to book your own lodging, we suggest exploring options in South Reno, near Mt. Rose Highway.)
- Day Camper ticket: $105
Suggested items to bring: notebooks or a computer for note-taking, a water bottle, sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen for outdoor meetings.
Lunch will be provided for all participants, but you can bring additional snacks as you like.
Additional details for overnight participants will be emailed out after confirmation of lodging.
Resonance Retreat takes place at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe. All attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation.
There is convenient parking available at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, close to all events, and all University parking permits are accepted. Additional parking permits will be issued for drivers who do not have a University parking permit, free of charge.
All attendees, regardless of ticket type, will be provided with two lunches during the retreat.
Full Overnight Camper tickets include one dinner on Friday, July 10 and one breakfast on Saturday, July 11.
Day Camper tickets do not include any other meals and are responsible for their own breakfast and dinner. Meals can be conveniently purchased on-site in Patterson Hall, offering accessible options throughout the event.
Yes! There is a place in the registration form to share any dietary preferences/allergies so we can accommodate all needs of our participants and insure an enjoyable dining experience.
Full refunds will be issued through June 15, 2026, for any reason. After June 15, refunds will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but may be limited to a partial refund. Reach out to kmiescke@unr.edu for information or if a cancellation is needed.
The Nevada Center for Musician Health and Wellness (NCMHW) is an initiative dedicated to helping musicians build healthier, more sustainable relationships with their craft, their performance and themselves. NCMHW addresses the areas of a musician's life that are often overlooked, translating research from fields such as wellness, psychology and lifestyle into practical tools that support both daily life and long-term creative sustainability.
Our work is directly integrated into the musical process itself. Through research-informed workshops and guided experiences, we help musicians improve how they practice, perform and engage with their work. This includes developing healthier mental approaches, managing the inner critical voice, preventing burnout and building more effective creative habits. For example, a session may explore breathing techniques applied during instrument practice, or mindset strategies used in real-time performance. At its core, NCMHW exists to help musicians reconnect with their creative identity, cultivate long-term wellbeing and approach their work with greater clarity, confidence and peace.
NCMHW is an ongoing initiative dedicated to supporting musicians through research-informed programming, community experiences and accessible educational resources. In addition to hosting Resonance, we lead the Soundcheck Series. These are a set of workshops held twice a year (spring and fall) that bring the same approach as our retreat into a more focused, local format. These sessions are designed to provide practical tools that musicians can immediately integrate into their creative process. As well as expanding our reach to a wider audience.
Beyond events, NCMHW is committed to both conducting and supporting research in mindfulness, wellness and lifestyle practices as they relate to musicians and the arts. We work to translate this research into accessible formats such as workshops, presentations and digital resources. We do this so musicians can apply these insights directly to their lives and practice. Through Resonance, the Soundcheck Series and our ongoing research and resource development, NCMHW aims to create a growing ecosystem of support for musicians seeking a more sustainable and fulfilling relationship with their craft.
NCMHW operates at the intersection of both, but in a way that is distinct from traditional music training. We do not focus on developing technical musical skills. Instead, our work is centered on improving how musicians engage with their craft. We address areas often overlooked in conventional training, such as mindset, the inner critical voice, burnout and long-term creative sustainability.
Our programming integrates these concepts directly into the musical process. Through workshops and guided experiences, we explore how practices like breathwork, focus and mental framing can be applied during practice and performance, helping musicians not just play better, but approach their work in a healthier, more effective and more fulfilling way. Rather than replacing music training, NCMHW complements it by strengthening the foundation that allows musicians to grow, perform and sustain their craft over time.