The Philadelphia Orchestra Welcomes Children and Families into the Captivating World of Classical Music with Two Special Concert Series in the 2012-13 Season

The Philadelphia Orchestra introduces young listeners to its distinctive Philadelphia Sound with Family and Sound All Around concerts next season.

(Philadelphia, January 25, 2012)—Aspiring to delight children and cultivate the next generation of classical music lovers, The Philadelphia Orchestra announces details of its family-oriented offerings—Family Concert Series and the beloved Sound All Around—in the 2012-13 season. Both programs serve to introduce orchestral music to a new generation of listeners by bringing children—and their families—closer to the performance experience while also demonstrating how powerful storytelling aligns with classical music. 

The Family Concert Series takes center stage in the 2012-13 season, blending captivating storytelling with classical music. Held in Verizon Hall at 11:30 AM on Saturdays, these concerts offer families an excellent way to engage with orchestral music across generations. Prior to each Family Concert and for no additional charge, families can enjoy Pre-Concert Adventures, which allow children to interact with different aspects of the upcoming performance. These begin at 10:00 AM in Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Leopold Stokowski’s influence is felt throughout the season but especially in the Family Concert Series, as he created The Philadelphia Orchestra’s first concert series for children in 1921. These concerts have transformed over the years to the Family Concerts that occur today, but Stokowski’s influence lives on.

Kicking off on October 27, 2012, with Cowboys, Caballeros, and Copland, this Family Concert will be hosted by Jamie Bernstein, daughter of famed composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. With the music of the legendary Aaron Copland, the concert is Western-themed and the Orchestra encourages children “to mosey on down” to the Kimmel Center in their favorite cowboy or cowgirl costumes.

Celebrate the arrival of “the most wonderful time of the year” with A Holiday Spectacular on December 1, 2012. This concert will be filled with a collection of holiday favorites performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra, plenty of opportunities for families to sing-along, and of course, a visit from Santa Claus!

The Family Concert Series continues with Carnival of the Animals on February 16, 2013. The Orchestra brings the zoo to life at Verizon Hall with great music and rhymes, and a carnival of animals. Acclaimed storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston returns as narrator and the Orchestra also welcomes pianists—and sisters—Christine and Michelle Naughton.

Offering a taste of West-African music traditions, the Orchestra presents We’ve Got the Beat on March 23, 2013. The Bernard Woma Ensemble will join The Philadelphia Orchestra and combine traditional African percussion sounds with Western orchestral instruments for an unforgettable cultural performance. Also featured on the program will be virtuosic percussion soloist Colin Currie and members of the Orchestra’s percussion section.

The Family Concert Series concludes with a celebration of Vivaldi, Venice, and violins on April 20, 2013. Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery follows a compelling story set in the early 1700s and invites families to watch the drama unfold, accompanied by Vivaldi’s most important pieces.

In addition to the Family Concert Series, The Philadelphia Orchestra will again offer its Sound All Around series, created for children ages 3-5. These are interactive concerts that enable children to not only hear the music but also to engage with the performance up-close with their eyes and hands. Held on Saturdays and Mondays throughout the season and lasting 45 minutes, Sound All Around concerts give children the opportunity to examine real instruments with the guidance of musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra, sing songs, and dance to the music.

With five concerts planned for the coming season, each performance will introduce the young audience to a member of the string, woodwind, brass, or percussion family, and during the final concert all of the musicians from the season play as an ensemble to show children how the sounds of each instrument they have learned about work together. Award-winning storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston hosts the Sound All Around series. 

Both the Sound All Around and the Family Concert series provide welcoming entrée for children into the exciting world of classical music while also giving them an incredible opportunity to experience sounds and stories live and in a friendly, fun environment. For more information on The Philadelphia Orchestra and its family-oriented offerings, please visit www.philorch.org. 

Sound All Around

Sound All Around 1 – November 17, 2012; November 19, 2012

Sound All Around 2 – January 5, 2013; January 7, 2013

Sound All Around 3 – March 9, 2013; March 11, 2013

Sound All Around 4 – April 6, 2013; April 8, 2013

Sound All Around 5 – May 4, 2013; May 6, 2013

Concerts are held on Saturdays and Mondays at 10:00 and 11:15 AM in the historic Academy of Music Ballroom.

Family Concert: Cowboys, Caballeros, and Copland 

October 27 at 11:30 AM – Saturday morning — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Cristian Macelaru Conductor

Jamie Bernstein Host

Program includes:

Copland                                    Excerpts from El Salón México

Copland                                    Excerpts from the ballet Rodeo

Copland                                    Excerpts from the ballet Billy the Kid

Family Concert: A Holiday Spectacular! 

December 1 at 11:30 AM – Saturday morning — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Cristian Macelaru Conductor

Charlotte Blake Alston Narrator

Program includes:

Tchaikovsky                               Excerpts from The Nutcracker

Holcombe                                  ’Twas the Night Before Christmas

Anderson                                   Sleigh Ride

Family Concert: Carnival of the Animals 

February 16 at 11:30 AM – Saturday morning — Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Cristian Macelaru Conductor

Charlotte Blake Alston Narrator

Christina and Michelle Naughton Pianos