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FOR THE
LOVE OF
MUSIC.

Our nonprofit mission

TOSCO MUSIC IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSIC THROUGH PERFORMANCES AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS; FOSTERS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG LISTENERS AND PERFORMERS; AND CONNECTS PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR MUSICIANS TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER.

Born from intimate living room jam sessions in Charlotte, NC, Tosco Music Parties have grown into popular community concerts where nationally recognized acts share the stage with undiscovered artists and audience members are invited to sing along throughout the evening.


From concerts and open mic nights to youth music scholarships and outreach, Tosco Music is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the community explore, develop and share their passion for music in all its forms.

View Events

  • Tosco Music History

    John Tosco has been presenting Tosco Music Parties in Charlotte for more than 35 years, and Tosco Music became a nonprofit organization in 1999 that serves musicians of all ages and genres, supports artists with access to spaces to create and perform, and provides access to the arts for underserved communities. Read more in Axios.

    We celebrated our 100th TMP in April 2022, our 20th Tosco Music Beatles Tribute last year at our 5th FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival, and December 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of Tosco Music Holiday Party! See past TMP highlights here.

    History Overview

  • Financials & Impact

    In addition to TMPs and FabFest, Tosco Music presents live music at approximately 100 activities and 30 locations throughout Charlotte each year; the majority are free and half are for older adults in the communities where they live. These reach thousands each year and provide paid gigs for more than 300 local musicians. Tosco Music Open Mic showcases hundreds more performances each year by musicians across the age spectrum, many who are bravely taking the stage for the first time. Tosco Music has awarded more than $64,000 since 2010 to 135 youth and adult music scholarship winners. See more impact here.

    FY25 Financial Overview

OUR PROGRAMS

  • Tosco Music Party

    Tosco Music Party

    Each Tosco Music Party showcases an eclectic mix of all styles of music, with performances by a variety of local, regional and nationally-touring acts of all ages. All TMPs include Tosco Music's trademark singalongs with the audience led by John Tosco and the TMP House Band & Singalong Choir. In April 2022 we celebrated our 100th Tosco Music Party! See videos of past TMP highlights here.

  • Tosco Music Holiday Party

    Tosco Music Holiday Party

    A Charlotte tradition since 2016, Tosco Music transforms Knight Theater into Charlotte’s living room every December for a special night of holiday songs and singalongs with friends and neighbors! Enjoy classic and contemporary songs of the season in a variety of music styles at a concert that's great for school-aged kids and grandparents alike. Bring the whole family to celebrate the holidays with live music together! See past Tosco Music Holiday Party highlights here.

  • Tosco Music Beatles Tribute

    Tosco Music Beatles Tribute

    Tosco Music hosts an annual Beatles Tribute in the same format as TMPs - only all Beatles songs! This popular Charlotte tradition is a unique evening of diverse local and regional acts performing Beatles songs in a variety of musical genres, with audience singalongs throughout the night. Since 2019, Tosco Music Beatles Tribute has been part of FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival. View past Tosco Music Beatles Tribute highlights here.

  • FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival

    FabFest-Charlotte's Beatles Festival

    In 2019, Tosco Music launched FabFest as a destination event for Charlotte that builds community by helping all ages and cultures come together around the universal popularity of the music of the Beatles. FabFest Daytime includes live music on two stages at CPCC’s Parr Center, plus plenty of ways for the community to get involved: a Beatles Art Contest & Cover Song Contest with cash prizes, Beatles Open Mic, Family Fun Room, and so much more! See past FabFest galleries here.

  • Tosco Music Open Mic

    Tosco Music Open Mic

    Whether you're a veteran of the stage or making your debut, Tosco Music Open Mic is a monthly, family-friendly open mic night that offers a supportive community atmosphere where you can come to enjoy the music or share your own! The evening starts with singalongs before performances so everyone can play and sing along. Check out our events page for the latest info.

  • Musician Support & Scholarships

    Musician Support & Scholarships

    Tosco Music serves musicians of all ages and genres with access to spaces to create and perform. Since 2010, Tosco Music has awarded numerous music scholarships to The Swannanoa Gathering, Arts+ music camps, and other music programs through the Jacob Titus Youth Music Scholarship Fund.

    Tosco Music also cohosts Charlotte Music Community HANG, along with partners FAIR PLAY, Grindhaus Studios, and Music Everywhere CLT, as an opportunity for everyone in the Charlotte music ecosystem to network and build relationships and skills.

  • Community Outreach

    Community Outreach

    Tosco Music provides access to the arts for underserved communities when we bring the joy of live music and singing to seniors. We provide performance opportunities for working musicians at area events that are free and open to the public. Tosco Music provides live music at 100 events and activities at 30 locations throughout the Charlotte region each year. With affordable ticket prices and community access tickets for area nonprofits and the people they serve, we strive to make TMPs accessible for all.

BOARD OF
DIRECTORS

  • Robert Adden - Treasurer

    Ruff Bond Cobb Wade & Bethune, LLP

  • Jane Ballard

    Retired, SPX Corporation

  • Jamey Boiter

    BOLTGROUP

  • DeWitt Crosby

    Retired Psychologist

  • Matt Crowder

    Wells Fargo Advisors

  • Karen Gunther

    Corning Incorporated

  • Martha Harbison - Chair

    Community Contributor

  • Sandra James

    Retired Non-profit Executive

  • Elizabeth Lewicki

    Stanley Black & Decker

  • Susan Loudenslager

    Retired Realty Executive

  • Carolyn Lugo-Allred

    Children's Theater of Charlotte

  • Brad Merlie- Secretary

    Ponte Ventures, LLC

  • Lance Ollivierre

    Central Piedmont Community College

  • Carrie Teixeira

    Community Volunteer

  • Graves Upchurch

    Moore & Van Allen, PLLC

ADVISORY COUNCIL

  • Brian Collier

    President
    The Gambrell Foundation

  • Charlie Elberson

    VP/Insights Strategist, Wray Ward
    Trustee, Reemprise Fund

  • Tom Gabbard

    President/CEO
    Blumenthal Performing Arts

  • Mark O'Connor

    Professional Musician, Composer,
    Author, Past TMP Performer

  • Susan Patterson

    Retired, Knight Foundation

  • Kyle Petty

    Philanthropist
    Broadcast Media Professional
    Past TMP Performer

  • Maria Howell

    Singer, Actor, Voiceover, Coach

  • Tony Arreaza

    Carlotan Talents

  • John Ockerbloom

    Head of U.S. Real Estate
    Barings

FRIENDS OF
TOSCO MUSIC

TOSCO MUSIC DONORS

    • John & Amber Ockerbloom

    • Dennis & Kaye McGarry

    • Dumont Clarke & Shirley J. Linn

    • Charlie Elberson

    • Lane Jacobs & Tamara Titus

    • Carrie & Jeff Teixeira

    • Aly Wheeler

    • Mickey Aberman & Linda MacDonald

    • Stephen Allred & Carolyn Lugo-Allred

    • Lauren Kennedy & Jared Bendel

    • Jon Buchan

    • David Carlson & Gretchen Caldwell

    • Mark & Adele Dillon

    • Smitty & Jill Flynn

    • Anne Marie Forbes

    • Billy Gerhart

    • Adara & Josh Jacobson

    • Brian & Mary Anna Marley

    • Teri & Kemp Miller

    • Dan Muir & Carolyn Loudenslager

    • Brittany & David Netta

    • John & Sarah Parham

    • Angela & Josh Scholl

    • Karen Wooden

    • Chris Woodrow & Lori Walker

    • Tanja Bechtler

    • Jill Blumenthal

    • Anne Geary

    • Malcolm & Katie Hubicki-Hamilton

    • David & Maureen Christensen

    • Scott & Katie Curry

    • Marion & Ted Gittings

    • Denise Hensel

    • James & Elaine Herlihy

    • Tim & Kathryn Johnson

    • Wayne & Pat Kool

    • Julie Kramer

    • Lisa & Michael Lackey

    • The Maddrey Family

    • John Markovics & Nicole Norton

    • Cindy McMillan

    • Louis Stephens

    • Nick & Kendall Tosco

    • Cynthia & Chris Walsh

  • Think of Tosco Music Party as the musical equivalent of walking into Ben & Jerry's and saying: 'I'd like a spoonful of everything, please.'

  • A Tosco Music Party is a theatre in the round of sorts for acoustic musicians. It's a medium that breaks down artificial barriers between entertainers and audience.

  • Creative Loafing

    Charlotte, NC

  • Creative Loafing

    Charlotte, NC