The Nashville Symphony covers all the bases when it comes to putting together a season of shows. There's classical, jazz, pops and movie concerts along with it's popular Family Series.
Nashville Symphony Assistant Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yanez designs the Family Series shows. They are incredible, interactive musical experiences for families with kids of all ages, and they appeal to everyone in the family. While elementary-age children are the sweet spot, Lopez-Yanez aims to make it as wide of a net as possible.
"The biggest thing for me is to put together fun, engaging, thematic shows. I want the content to be stuff that's going to excite kids, including things that are relevant in pop culture that they feel they connect with," says Lopez-Yanez. "I also have that Pixar mentality, so I make sure there are jokes in there for parents and older kids," he adds.
These special concerts are highly interactive and theatrical, and the design of each show is built around the audience being part of the action.
"In the space show, for example, all the audience members are cadets. They've come to the symphony hall for pilot training as part of th Symphonic Starfleet's Pilot Training series," says Lopez-Yanez. "Suddenly we discover the evil Lieutenant Tritone is plotting to destroy the galaxy, so we all together we have to travel across the galaxy to defeat him before he destroys the universe," he adds.
The concerts include visual appeal as well, including video elements.
"We are doing more and more green screen video action, particularly in The Gold Rush and Symphony in Space shows," says Lopez-Yanez. "You visually see that we're traveling through space and the evil Tritone appears on the screen as we battle him as if we're in a spaceship," he adds.
It's all a fun way to engage children with the magical power of music. And for Lopez-Yanez, that fun factor is extremely important.
"When I'm building a show, I'm not trying to create something that's overly teachy or in your face. This is meant to be fun," says Lopez-Yanez. "These shows are meant to entertain kids while exposing them to what we do on a regular basis, which is play classical music," he adds.
SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES
All of the Family Series concerts are now sensory friendly experiences. The concerts include the following:
- No shushing
- Booster seats
- Raised lighting
- Flexible seating
- Closed captioning
- Relaxed ticket return policy
- Kiosk with fidget toys, headphones, social stories and more
- Quiet spaces in Curb Education Hall and Balcony Lobby alcoves
- Plus a resource fair in the West Lobby
Access the Nashville Symphony's sensory resources HERE.
PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES
Your Family Series concert tickets include free pre-show activities in the Schermerhorn starting at 10 a.m. (one hour prior to showtime). A musical instrument petting zoo is a staple. Volunteers introduce children to a variety of instruments that they can get their hands on and experience how to play them. Other activities include stories, crafts and games which change per show to mirror the concert theme.
2019 – 2020 Ann & Monroe Carell Family Trust Family Series
Show descriptions provided by Nashville Symphony.
Halloween at Hogwarts
October 5, 2019
Get on board the Hogwarts Express and join your Nashville Symphony for a magical morning of musical selections from your favorite Harry Potter films and more. Come in costume!
Holiday Spectacular & Sing-Along
December 7, 2019
Put on your Santa cap and get ready for a family-friendly holiday celebration featuring all of your seasonal favorites. Everyone will get to join in the fun with a holiday sing-along!
The Gold Rush: An American Musical Adventure
March 14, 2020
Gold has just been discovered in California, and Rico “Roughrider” Lopez is looking for pay dirt. Are you ready to join him on a trip through the Wild West, crossing raging rivers, outwitting nasty outlaws and staring down wild buffalo? This musical adventure will celebrate the great composers who helped define the wide-open sound of America, including Copland, Sousa, Grofé, Elmer Bernstein and more.
Symphony in Space
April 18, 2020
Board the Nashville Symphony’s Sonic Spaceship with Cadet Enrico and set a course for intergalactic adventure! The villainous Lieutenant Tritone is attempting to steal the three legendary Orb Crystals that maintain peace and order among the star systems. You’ll be recruited by the Starforce General to employ musical maneuvers in a cosmic race to save the galaxy from total destruction.
2019 – 2020 MOVIES SERIES
The Nashville Symphony's popular Movies Series includes five exciting performances next season:
• Disney in Concert: Coco — Oct. 10 – 11, 2019
• Home Alone in Concert — Dec. 12 – 13, 2019
• Star Wars in Concert: Return of the Jedi — Feb. 6 – 9, 2020
• Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in Concert — May 21 – 24, 2020
• Batman (1989) Live in Concert — July 2 – 3, 2020
SEASON TICKET PACKAGES ON SALE NOW
Season ticket packages for all 2019 – 2020 Nashville Symphony series are on sale now. The Family Series packages start at $66 for all four performances, and the Movie Series packages start at $250 for all five shows. Individual tickets go on sale July 19.
For more info about the entire season — including the classical, jazz, pops, National Geographic Live and other special performances — call 615-687-6400 or visit nashvillesymphony.org.
