Student Concerts: Inspiring Young Minds Through Music
On May 9, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra will welcome hundreds of 4th and 5th grade students from across the Yakima Valley for a field trip they’ll never forget—a free Student Concert designed just for them!
For many of these young students, this will be their very first experience with live symphonic music. They’ll step off their school buses and into the Capitol Theatre, where they will be immersed in the thrilling sounds of an orchestra performing iconic music. This year's Student Concert program, conducted by YSO Assistant Conductor Bobby Collins, is called Sports Orchestrated. It will feature exhilarating pieces like Les Toreadors from Bizet's Carmen Suite, Waldteufel's The Skater’s Waltz, and Juhi Bansal’s In The Pocket, celebrating the energy of various sports through music.
These concerts aren’t just about music—they’re about opening doors. Many of these students may never have considered the symphony as a space for them. But thanks to generous donors like you, we are able to make this opportunity accessible and create lifelong memories through the power of music.
Experiences like this are only possible with the support of our incredible community. Your contributions help us provide free educational concerts, ensuring that music remains a part of children's lives. For some, this may be the only time they attend a symphony performance. But with your help, it doesn't have to be the last.
If you believe in the power of music to inspire young minds, consider making a donation to support music education in Yakima. Every gift, no matter the size, helps bring music into the lives of children who need it most.
Can’t make it to a concert but still want to experience the magic of the symphony? We will offer FREE Open Rehearsals for our two remaining Classical Series concerts, at 10:30 AM on the day of the concert! Just bring a canned food donation for Northwest Harvest, and you’ll have the chance to see our orchestra prepare for an upcoming performance. It’s a great way to enjoy live music while giving back to the community. We will have Open Rehearsals for The French Connection and Mahler’s First Symphony concerts, on April 5 and May 31 respectively.
Thank you for supporting music education and helping us make the symphony accessible to all. We can’t wait to welcome these young students on May 9 for a concert they’ll never forget!
—Ella Kim