Want to See a Free Philadelphia Orchestra Concert This Thursday?

The Philadelphia Orchestra is throwing a free concert at the Kimmel Center this Thursday, and you’re invited.

Our symphony, under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, will commence their spring season with the surprise show, aimed at the city’s youth. The event is part of a grand objective to bridge the orchestra with the community through music education. The free general admission tickets can be reserved online starting at 10am on April 5.

The evening kicks off at 5:30pm in the Commonwealth Plaza with a special Conduct Us event. Working with Assistant Conductor Lio Kuokman, kids will have an opportunity to share the stage with the Orchestra’s string section, conducting the instrumentalists to the tempos of their own creations. One fledgling conductor will be invited to lead the entire orchestra onstage in Verizon Hall at the concert’s finale.

The Verizon Hall concert at 6:30pm will feature a scope of classics, including selections from Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Sibelius’s Finlandia, Suite No. 1 from Bizet’s Carmen and Copland’s Appalachian Spring.

In a rather unwonted approach, the Philadelphia Orchestra is encouraging audience members to keep their smartphones at hand. The sea of glowing screens will not be a distraction, but rather serve as a device of engagement. Using the new Kids Track feature on the orchestra’s LiveNote app, families can enjoy interactive features on the phone while the music is playing live in front of them.

“PopUP Concerts are festive and spontaneous events for people of every generation to enjoy, and with the earlier concert time, we welcome families with little ones who have early bedtimes,” said Allison Vulgamore in a statement. “Come share the joy of music-making with Yannick and our musicians, and be part of the fun! We’re also so excited to introduce you to new ways the Orchestra will deepen its presence and interaction within Philadelphia’s communities.”

Alongside the PopUp concerts, the Orchestra’s newly-deepened collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia has enriched its efforts to make live music accessible to all audiences, including the award-winning Sound All Around for preschoolers, Family Concerts, School Concerts, PopUps and Neighborhoods concerts.

For more information about the FREE PopUP Concert, please visit philorch.org.