Youth Concerts

Through Salem Youth Concerts, The Oregon Symphony in Salem has provided students the opportunity to gain exposure to classical music played by a professional orchestra. The Oregon Symphony has offered these concerts since the 1980’s.

The concert is only one piece of the program. It is accompanied by a series of lessons and activities developed to help meet and exceed Oregon Department of Education’s Arts Content Standards. The program guide offers background information on the pieces the students will hear at the concert, a listening outline for each piece, and biographical information about the composers. Topics include: Sound Awareness, Exploring Careers in Music, the families of the Orchestra, Dynamics in Music, writing a concert review and on and on. In recent years the concerts have been sold out.

The 2009-10 Youth Concert will be held on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at Smith Auditorium on the Willamette University Campus. The first concert will be at 9:30 AM and the second (repeat) at 11:00 AM. Bus funding is available only for the Salem concerts for all public schools within a 100 mile radius.

2009/10 Young People’s Concert

Team Oregon Symphony

Gregory Vajda, conductor

And the pitch… it’s a sharp pop fly to center stage! The conductor is the coach, the musicians the players and the concert hall is the stadium in this concert which introduces the unique team effort of an orchestra and its 76 members. How do the players on this enormous team work together to create exciting music? Hear from the players themselves talk about their place on the “team” and learn about the different families of instruments in this concert that will surely hit it out of the park!

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
March 18 & 19, 2010
9:30 & 11 AM

Smith Auditorium, Willamette University, Salem
March 16, 2010
9:30 & 11 AM (Salem Youth Concerts SOLD OUT)

Tickets: $3, free for students in federal free and reduced lunch program, and free to chaperones. Our complimentary 2009/10 Young People's Concert teacher’s guide and companion CD will be a great resource to educators, as they lead their students in this celebratory journey this school year!

For 2009/10 Young People's Concerts held at Smith Auditorium in Salem, you must use our downloadable order form.