The Minnesota Orchestra has announced plans for a Sensory-Friendly Concert Series. The series will include three small ensemble concerts in Orchestra Hall’s Target Atrium and culminate with a full Orchestra Sensory-Friendly Concert.
The first three events will take place December 9, 2017, and February 13, and April 14 of 2018. The Saturday of December 9th will feature a duo of Minnesota Orchestra violinists. The ensemble that takes place Tuesday, February 13th will feature a violin/bass duo and ensemble on Saturday, April 14th will feature a flute/guitar duo.
And the series will culminate on Saturday, July 14th in a Full Orchestra performance in Orchestra Hall’s Main auditorium.
Assistant Conductor Akiko Fujimoto had this to say about the concert series, “One of the greatest things about music is that everyone responds to it in ways that are unique to who they are. I am thrilled to conduct the Orchestra’s first full-Orchestra Sensory-Friendly program, and to welcome those who might not have yet had the opportunity to hear live orchestral music in a concert hall.”
The idea behind Sensory-Friendly concerts is that they are designed for audiences of all ages and abilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum and those with sensory sensitivities. These concerts follow the same musical experiences onstage as most other chamber and family concerts. The surrounding experience throughout Orchestra Hall is more relaxed, and designed for a more inclusive environment. Plus, there is also access to specially-designed online preparation materials a month before each performance, and fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones, ear plugs, and quiet spaces are made available at each concert.
The idea is that you can still enjoy the music even with physical, social, and emotional limitations.
And that’s a beautiful thing.
These concerts were originally conceived and designed back in 2013 by Orchestra musicians in a partnership with local music therapist Lyndie Walker of ToneWorks. Lyndie will be serving as the onstage host for the July 14th concert. This concert will be the first of its kind in Orchestra Hall. With the help of an Accessibility Team made up of Orchestra staff, local music therapists, music educators, self advocates, and other community members this concert was designed and made possible.
Jessi Ryan, the Orchestra’s Manager of Community Engagement summed up the level of work that went into designing and supporting this concert series, “We have collaborated closely with community advisors to design concerts that empower audiences to experience the music in an environment where they are encouraged to relax and be themselves. We are all enriched when more voices are at the table and more people are included in our programming. Our musicians were an integral part in establishing the Orchestra’s small ensemble Sensory-Friendly Concerts, and we are very excited to build on their work by expanding the series this year with a full-Orchestra performance.”
Ensemble Concert Information
The three ensemble concerts are free of charge but do require tickets. Visit minnesotaorchestra.org to order online.
Minnesota Orchestra Sensory-Friendly Concerts
SMALL ENSEMBLE CONCERTS
Saturday, December 9, 2017, 11 a.m. / Target Atrium, Orchestra Hall
Helen Chang Haertzen, violin
Joanne Opgenorth, violin
Tuesday, February 13, 2018, 11 a.m. / Target Atrium, Orchestra Hall
Pamela Arnstein, violin
Kathryn Nettleman, bass
Saturday, April 14, 2018, 11 a.m. / Target Atrium, Orchestra Hall
Adam Kuenzel, flute
Magdalena Loza Flores, guitar
Full Concert Information
Minnesota Orchestra Sensory-Friendly Concerts
COURAGE AND TRIUMPH
Saturday, July 14, 2018, 2 p.m. / Orchestra Hall
Minnesota Orchestra
Akiko Fujimoto, conductor
Lyndie Walker, host
Nygel Witherspoon, cello
COPLAND Fanfare for the Common Man
TOWER Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 1
WILLIAMS Hedwig’s Flight, from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™
BERNSTEIN Overture to West Side Story
FAURÉ Elégie for Cello and Orchestra
J. STRAUSS, Sr. Radetzky March
BEETHOVEN Allegro con brio, from Symphony No. 7
STRAVINSKY Finale from The Firebird
Tickets: $12
This performance is approximately 60 minutes.
Audience members are invited to arrive early on July 14 to enjoy a variety of pre-concert activities in the lobby, beginning at 12:45 p.m. Activities include opportunities to try orchestral instruments, engage in creative movement, participate in collaborative art-making and meet Orchestra musicians.
TICKET PURCHASING INFORMATION
Individual tickets and subscription packages can be purchased online at minnesotaorchestra.org, or by calling 612-371-5656 (612-371-5642 for subscriptions) or 800-292-4141. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Orchestra Hall Box Office, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis (Stage Door ticketing is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lobby Box Office ticketing begins two hours before all ticketed performances); and at the skyway accessible Minnesota Orchestra Administrative Office, International Centre, 5th floor, 920 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis (open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). For more information, call 612-371-5656, or visit minnesotaorchestra.org. For subscriptions, call 612-371-5642 or visit minnesotaorchestra.org/subscribe.
All programs, artists, dates, times and prices subject to change.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
