Starting this weekend, The Florida Orchestra is amping up its kid-sized Family Concerts by joining forces with other Tampa Bay organizations that cater to children.
For 12 Family Concerts – six in the fall, six in the spring – the orchestra will partner with the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa, The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. The interactive chamber concerts introduce youngsters (ages 6-10) to classical music and help develop focus, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
This first one of the season is Get Up and Move, featuring a TFO string quartet at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa on Sunday (Oct. 7) at 1 pm and 2:15 pm. It explores the minuet, tango, ballet, square dancing and more in a fast-paced and interactive concert, which is free with paid admission or museum membership. It features TFO musicians Yuan-Yuan Wang, Zubaida Azezi, Derek Mosloff and Doniyor Zuparov.
“Collaborating with other groups is a win-win-win experience. It allows TFO and each organization to offer something unique and more substantial than each of us could on our own. And the kids get a more meaningful experience,” said TFO Community Engagement Director Erin Horan.
Preconcert activities start 30 minutes before each performance. They include activities designed in conjunction with the partner group as well as TFO’s North Suncoast Associates’ popular Instrument Petting Zoo, in which kids can try out a variety of instruments, from violins to trumpets. Kids also get a chance to ask questions of Florida Orchestra musicians.
This year all Family Concert performances are designed for a sensory-friendly audience. TFO partners with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of South Florida to provide training and extra support to staff and musicians.
The Florida Orchestra has a ton of family-friendly concerts coming up, including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film concert, free Pops in the Park in Vinoy Park and River Tower Park, Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time with film clips, Holiday Pops with two matinees and Home Alone film concert. Also, don’t forget that kids and teens get in free to all Masterworks concerts, such as The Planets, with Classical Kids & Teens tickets in advance.
Each season TFO reaches nearly 80,000 people through its education and community programs. Below is a schedule of the Family Concerts.
FAMILY CONCERTS
Note: Tickets vary by concert. Because of different ticketing systems, tickets must be purchased through each host venue.
Get Up and Move! TFO String Quartet
Explore the minuet, tango, ballet, square dancing and more at this fast-paced and interactive concert.
Sun, Oct 7, 2018, 1 pm and 2:15 pm
Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa
Admission: Free with paid admission or membership to museum
Sat, Oct 27, 2018, 10 am and 11:15 am
Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Admission: $5 per person; ages 3 and younger free.
Tickets available through Ruth Eckerd Hall
Sun, Nov 4, 2018, 2 pm and 3:15 pm
James Museum, St. Petersburg
Admission: $5 per person; ages 3 and younger free. Museum admission not included.
Tickets available through James Museum
Meet the Brass with TFO Brass Quintet
Explore the sounds and history behind each member of the brass family.
Sat, March 2, 2019, 10 am and 11:15 am
Murray Theatre at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Admission: $5 per person; ages 3 and younger free.
Tickets available through Ruth Eckerd Hall
Sat, March 16, 2019, 11 am and 12:15 pm
James Museum, St. Petersburg
Admission: $5 per person; ages 3 and younger free. Museum admission not included.
Tickets available through James Museum
Sat, April 6, 2019, 11 am and 12:15 pm
Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa
Admission: Free with paid admission or membership to museum
