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When it comes to the symphony, you might not think it's very kid-friendly. With long stretches of music, potentially uncomfortable dress clothes, and the fact that sitting still is a guaranteed part of the audience experience, it might not seem like the best activity for your little ones. But that's where the Utah Symphony's Family Series is different.
Designed specifically for the youngest music lovers, this special concert series brings three delightful and engaging performances to the stage—perfectly crafted to spark a child's imagination and introduce them to the symphony.
Each Family Series concert not only includes a stunning symphony performance tailored to children ages 3-10, but before every show, the lobby is filled with fun activities to kickstart the kids' excitement. From group art projects and themed photo-ops to souvenir crafts and performance-themed snacks, memories will be made before the performance even begins.
When it comes to the concert itself, the Utah Symphony knows that sitting still, especially when surrounded by your favorite people, can sometimes be difficult for kiddos. That's why many Family Series concerts are interactive. Additionally, every kid-friendly concert is roughly 60 minutes with a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for excited and wiggly bodies under 10.
Now that you know a bit more about the Utah Symphony's Family Series, don't miss the final concert of the season: "Mason Bates' Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of an Orchestra!"
This multi-media concert was created by Grammy-winning composer Mason Bates in collaboration with a multi-Oscar-winning creative team—including director and writer Gary Rydstrom and Jim Capobianco. You and your kids know their work already; these individuals are responsible for creating hit movies including "The Lion King," "Toy Story," and "Finding Nemo!"
Delightful storytelling, stunning animation, and Grammy Award-winning music come together to teach children about the orchestra and its instruments—as seen through the eyes of a magical (and musical) sprite. Adorable and engaging, this concert brings a new, Fantasia-like animation experience to the stage and the screen! In fact, conductor Conner Gray Covington, who will lead the performance, calls it "the best introduction to the orchestra in more than seven decades."
Your kids will be enamored as they follow along this musical journey to learn about the different instrument families. "Philharmonia Fantastique" illustrates the intricacies of how instruments work individually and also collectively to produce the huge range of sounds that characterize the orchestra.
In doing so, this animated film flies through the instruments—literally, the sprite takes flight and the audience follows along—to explore the fundamental connections between sound, performance, creativity, and technology in a way that makes learning fun.
With designated colors to help identify the different instrument families, this cartoon concerto adds new meaning to the phrase "bringing the orchestra to life on stage" as each instrument is given a personality based on its tonality!
Throughout the course of the film, "Philharmonia Fantastique" portrays the four sections of the orchestra, each with its own unique sound worlds and musical themes. The woodwinds enjoy a slinky, sophisticated noir-jazz sound while the strings play out sounds of lush romanticism. In contrast, the brass perform an aggressive techno-fanfare while the percussion section showcases its versatility with a drum circle of rhythm.
In a grand finale, all these unique sounds merge together (with the help of the magical sprite) for the ultimate message of unity and harmony. The diverse instruments of the orchestra are most powerful when working together as one giant instrument! Watch the behind-the-scenes trailer video.
There are two daytime performances at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City on April 15 at 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and one evening performance at The Nooda Center for the Performing Arts on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. Now's the perfect time to take the kids to the Utah Symphony for their first Family Series concert. Tickets start at just $5, so bring the whole family for a day of musical and magical memories.
