The Upper Elementary Student Concerts are 50-minute, full orchestra concerts, presented in Jones Hall during the school day for students in grade 4-5. Students will hear the Houston Symphony perform and learn about the orchestra, with the goal of inspiring students to play an instrument. These concerts facilitate students’ acquisition of active listening skills.
2023-24 Upper Elementary Concert Dates & Times:
- October 24, 2023 at 9:40 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- October 24, 2023 at 11:15 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- October 25, 2023 at 9:40 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- October 25, 2023 at 11:15 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- October 26, 2023 at 9:40 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- October 26, 2023 at 11:15 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- October 31, 2023 at 9:40 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- October 31, 2023 at 11:15 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- November 1, 2023 at 11:15 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- February 27, 2024 at 11:15 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- February 28, 2024 at 9:40 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
- February 28, 2024 at 11:15 AM - WAITLIST ONLY
Ticket Costs
- Tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis beginning at 10:00am on August 21, 2023.
- Tickets are free for all public schools – ONE grade level per school (4th or 5th)
- Tickets for all private and home schools are $10 per seat.
- Schools will receive one free adult ticket per 10 student tickets.
Registration Process
- A registration form will be available on this webpage beginning at 10:00am on August 21, 2023.
- Please check with the principal at your school to ensure that only one grade level is registered (grade 4 or 5).
- Please select as many alternate concert dates / times that would be possible for your school to attend upon registration. Following form submission, Symphony staff will place your group into concerts on a first-come, first-served basis. If your primary concert choice is filled, we will place your group into any available concerts still open if listed as alternate concert options on your form. You will receive confirmation by the end of the business day once registering to confirm your concert date and time.
- To finalize securing your seats after receiving concert confirmation, a signed Letter of Agreement will be due by September 19, 2023.
- (For Private and home schools only). Payment will not be taken upon registration. A non-refundable 50% down-payment is due by September 19, 2023, along with the signed letter of agreement. The remaining balance is due two weeks prior to your concert date.
Transportation
- Schools are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the concert.
Concert Program
Take a journey with the Houston Symphony by attending one of the Upper Elementary Concerts led by new Assistant Conductor Gonzalo Farias! Throughout the program, we will not only learn about the instrument families of the orchestras, but also the musicians who play them, the conductor who leads the musicians, the people who make the show possible, and the people who attend and listen to the music - yes, you would be a part of the orchestra! Enjoy repertoire from the recognizable first movement from BEETHOVEN's Symphony No. 5, the strumming Pizzicati from DELIBES' Suite from Sylvia and more! We hope after this performance that this experience will inspired you to play an instrument when you enter Middle School next year!
This year's Upper Elementary Concert Program will feature works from (and some surprises!):
E. KATS-CHERNIN | Suite from Wild Swans |
III. Brothers: Subito energico | |
J. WILLIAMS | Nimbus 2000 from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone |
MASCAGNI | Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana |
DVORÁK | Carnival Overture, Opus 92 |
W.A. MOZART | Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550 |
I. Molto Allegro | |
BEETHOVEN | Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Opus 67 |
I. Allegro con brio | |
BERNSTEIN/PERESS | "Mambo" from West Side Story |
*Houston Symphony debut | |
V. COLEMAN | Umoja: Anthem of Unity |
J. WILLIAMS | Harry's Wondrous World from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone |
Teacher Resources
The Houston Symphony is honored to play a role in motivating students to continue playing their instruments in the band and orchestra programs across Houston, and we are grateful to the incredible music educators who make these trips and programs possible. To help with making the students’ experience even more valuable, our Community-Embedded Musicians have put together video resources to use in your classrooms before or after the concert. Look out for these musicians on stage when you visit the Symphony!
- Learn more about Musical Patterns that you will discover during these concerts from our Community-Embedded Musicians
- Is this your students’ first symphony concert? Hear from our musicians about what to expect during these concerts.
- After watching these videos, here are some other ideas for activities to further guide your students leading up to these concerts.
- Looking for a way to introduce your students to some of the instruments of the orchestra? Learn from Houston Symphony Musicians about what instruments they play!
Questions? Please contact edce@houstonsymphony.org or 713-238-1480.
To sign up for registration email reminders for our Student Concert series, please email your name, title, school, and school district to edce@houstonsymphony.org