The Symphony’s Young People’s Concerts are back and – new this year – completely free of charge. The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) will offer free performances of its nationally recognized Young People’s Concerts on Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Shelton Intermediate School and Sunday, March 27 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. Led by Music Director Alasdair Neale, the one-hour “Introduction to the Orchestra” concerts will feature music by historic and contemporary composers including Jessie Montgomery, Gioachino Rossini, Béla Bartók, Gabriela Lena Frank, Felix Mendelssohn, and Sergei Prokofiev.
The NHSO began a new “Children’s Concerts” series in 1933, performing concerts for kids and their families at Yale University’s Sprague Hall. The Symphony continued this tradition for eight decades, evolving the series into “Young People’s Concerts.” Prior to 2020, Young People’s Concerts were performed in school districts across Connecticut, including a field trip experience for all fourth grade New Haven Public School students. This year’s Young People’s Concerts in New Haven and Shelton are the newest evolution in the Symphony’s educational offerings, with free tickets and open access to tickets for the general public as well as schools.
Music Director Alasdair Neale says, “Programming and conducting concerts for children is one of my greatest passions as a conductor. The musicians and the students share in the excitement of being part of a live, orchestra concert. It is a joy to be able to bring back the Young People’s Concerts after a two-year hiatus and we hope that families will take advantage of the free tickets and easily accessible venues to join us for some great music!”
Tickets to the NHSO’s Young People’s Concerts are free. Registration is required and all attendees must follow the NHSO’s Covid-19 safety policies. Ticket registration is available online at NewHavenSymphony.org or by calling the NHSO box office Monday-Friday from 12-5pm at (203) 787-4282. (The NHSO will also perform Young People’s Concerts as a closed program for Seymour Public School students at Seymour Middle School during the week of March 28th.)
Young People’s Concerts are sponsored by The Katharine Matthies Foundation, The George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation, The Bartels Fund for Education, and Suzio York Hill.
