St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announces 2019/2020 Family Concert series with Resident Conductor Gemma New
New leads the SLSO in Music Without Boundaries (October 6, 2019), Peter and the Wolf (February 23, 2020), and World of Water (April 19, 2020)
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(March 25, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced its line-up of Family Concerts for the 2019/2020 season, the orchestra's 140th, with a trio of programs that will take families around the world, into fairy tales, and deep under water – all through music. These three, 45-minute Sunday afternoon concerts, designed for families with children ages 5 to 12, will be conducted by SLSO Resident Conductor Gemma New. The concerts begin at 3:00pm.
On October 6, 2019, the SLSO presents its Music Without Boundaries Family Concert. Presented in partnership with the World Traveler Gallery at The Magic House, this concert features music representing cultures from around the world. The SLSO presented Music Without Boundaries to almost 8,000 St. Louis-area students at three Education Concerts in February 2019. Based on the positive response from students and teachers, the SLSO added it to next season's Family series.
Then, on February 23, 2020, the SLSO brings Prokofiev's musical fairy tale, Peter and the Wolf, to life. The symphonic fairy tale follows a brave boy, Peter, and his adventures with a duck, bird, cat, and wolf. This tale has introduced thousands of children to classical music since it was first performed in 1936.
On April 19, 2020, the SLSO partners with the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station to present the World of Water Family Concert. Many composers, from Claude Debussy to Felix Mendelssohn, have found inspiration in water settings. The SLSO explores the deep connections between water and music in this aquatic adventure.
Before each concert, families are invited to Powell Hall for the SLSO's Instrument Playground. Starting at 2:00pm before each Family Concert, guests can explore, touch, and play real instruments of the orchestra in this hands-on experience located in throughout Powell Hall. Additional activities related to the theme of each concert will be announced later.
Gemma New returns to conduct her sixth, seventh, and eighth Family Concerts with the SLSO during the 19/20 season, most recently conducting the Carnival of the Animals in March 2019. New has also led the SLSO in two classical subscription programs and leads her third on April 5-7, the annual Forest Park concert, the Mercy Holiday Celebration, and presentations of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert. She made her New York City Lincoln Center debut conducting the New York Philharmonic at a Young People's Concert in November 2018. She was recently appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, a position she will assume in the 19/20 season in addition to her role with the SLSO.
Subscriptions for 19/20 Family Concert series are on sale now and begin at $27 for adults and $18 for children. Single tickets will go on sale this summer. A three-concert packages saves up to 25 percent off full-price single tickets. For more information or to purchase subscriptions, call 314-524-1700 or visit http://www.slso.org/family.
Music Without Boundaries
Sunday, October 6, 2019, 3:00pm
Gemma New, conductor
Music is a language spoken around the world, with unique regional dialects created through differences in rhythm, style, instrumentation, and tradition. In partnership with the World Traveler Gallery at The Magic House, audiences will travel around the world exploring similarities and differences of music from different cultures.
Presented in partnership with The Magic House
Peter and the Wolf
Sunday, February 23, 2020, 3:00pm
Gemma New, conductor
Join Peter and his animal friends on a musical adventure in Prokofiev's beloved work, Peter and the Wolf. Each character in this musical fairy tale is represented by a different instrument of the orchestra. Audiences will experience the tapestry of orchestral color representative of unique voices and personalities.
World of Water
Sunday, April 19, 2020, 3:00pm
Gemma New, conductor
From vast ocean landscapes to small babbling brooks, the enchanting world of water has inspired artists for centuries. Join the SLSO as they dive into musical works for the entire family, inspired by water.
Presented in partnership with the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station
About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrated as one of today's most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 139th year with the 2018/2019 season and Music Director Designate Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the world's finest, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections – all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.
In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with this season marking the 42nd year of their partnership.
The Grammy Award–winning SLSO's impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years.
Today, the SLSO builds on the institution's current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane Denève. Denève, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org.
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