Symphony Tacoma is pleased to announce the schedule for its 2020 Mini Maestros program designed for kids ages 2-8 and their families. The four-concert series offers interactive, close encounters with Symphony Tacoma musicians and their instruments. With curriculum prepared by Early Childhood Learning experts, the 45-minute “informances” get kids physically and mentally engaged with the music.
The first three concerts highlight a different family of instruments—strings, brass and percussion. Educator and emcee Shay Ryan introduces the instruments and explains musical concepts while Symphony Tacoma musicians demonstrate the concepts through a selection of songs that children respond to by singing, dancing, marching and clapping their hands. Each of these concerts includes an instrument “petting zoo” that begins one hour before the performances. The petting zoo allows children to touch and try out the musical instruments with the assistance of musicians.
The grand finale concert is Sergei Prokofiev’s classic Peter and the Wolf, which introduces the different instruments in the orchestra as characters in the classic Russian folk tale. Featuring the full orchestra, it provides a culmination of concepts learned in the previous concerts.
All concerts are held on Sundays at the University of Puget Sound’s Schneebeck Concert Hall at 2:30 pm, with the instrument petting zoo beginning at 1:30 pm. Tickets to individual concerts are $7 for children and $10 for adults, plus box office fees. A series pass which includes all four concerts is available for $22 for children and $32 for adults, a 20% discount. Tickets may be purchased online at tacomaartslive.org/events/symphony-tacoma or at the door.
Mini Maestros is sponsored by Ted Brown Music, University of Puget Sound, Washington State Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, KBTC and ParentMap.
2020 MINI MAESTROS SCHEDULE:
Fiddler on the Hoof
Sunday, January 12
Featuring the String Quintet
Join the Symphony Tacoma String Quintet for an inside look into the string family! This concert’s music includes Copland’s Hoe-down, Rossini’s William Tell Overture (the Lone Ranger theme), Home on the Range, and more. Come dressed in your best western gear!
Jungle Jams
Sunday, February 9
Featuring the Brass Quintet
Jungle Jams will take your little adventurers into the deep, dark jungle! They’ll learn how instruments can sound like animals and about high and low sounds. Little jaguars and toucans welcome!
Wild Wacky World of Percussion
Sunday, March 8
Featuring the Percussion Quartet
Everyone loves percussion — especially kids! Take a whirlwind tour of the percussion family with the Symphony Tacoma Percussion Quartet! Musical selections include favorites from the Pink Panther, the story of “Mr. Brown Can Moo” and more!
Peter and the Wolf
Sunday, April 19
Featuring Symphony Tacoma Orchestra
Sarah Ioannides, conductor | Jim Brown, narrator
Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev’s 1936 classic Peter and the Wolf tells the story of a young boy living with his grandfather in a forest clearing, and the adventure he and his animal friends have when a wolf comes through the garden gate. This marvelous work introduces the different instruments in the orchestra, with each character portrayed by a different instrument or group of instruments.
Note: No instrument petting zoo for this performance.