Reaching out with music.
Young People’s concerts
The Reno Philharmonic, in partnership with the Washoe County School District, presents Young People’s Concerts (YPCs) for over 8,000 third, fourth and fifth-grade students every year. Most attendees are students from the Washoe County School District who travel by bus to the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Students from other districts, private schools, and home schools are also welcome to attend.
This concert experience is intended to provide young listeners (age 7-12) with an enjoyable introduction to symphonic music, enhance live music appreciation, and hopefully inspire them to become musicians themselves.
Please make sure to review Concert Expectations.
This concert is HIGHLY interactive. Please download and utilize the Pre-Concert materials to ensure the best experience for your students.
What is Link Up?
Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program pairs orchestras with students in grades 3–5 at schools in their local communities, giving students the opportunity to learn about, listen to, and perform great music. Students participating in Link Up explore an interactive curriculum in which they learn to sing and play an instrument in the classroom before performing with the orchestra from their seats at a culminating concert.
Link Up provides a free, high-quality yearlong curriculum that teachers can implement, along with teaching materials, online video and audio resources, and the professional development and support necessary to make the program an engaging experience for students.
Lead support for Link Up is provided by Fund II Foundation. Additional funding for Link Up is provided by Linda and Earle S. Altman, The Barker Welfare Foundation, JJR Foundation, and Joan and Sanford I, Weill and the Weill Family Foundation. Link Up in New York City schools is made possible, in part, by an endowment gift from The Irene Diamond Fund. The Weill Music Institute’s programs are made available to a nationwide audience, in part, by an endowment grant from the Citi Foundation.
TRANSPORTATION
Performances begin at 10:00am and 11:30am and last approximately 45 minutes. Please plan on arriving at least 15 minutes ahead of performance time to allow for bus parking and entering the hall. You will need to make your own bus reservations, and we will settle invoices with WCSD Transportation directly.
WCSD schools do not need to pay for a bus to attend this concert.
Space is limited to 1450 per concert and is assigned on a first-come, first served basis. Due to event popularity and new safety procedures, we can not adjust your numbers. Please plan accordingly and make the most accurement estimation possible.
IMPORTANT ENTRY INFORMATION:
Registration will be slightly different this year as in years past you will need to estimate the students, teachers, and chaperones you will be bringing. Upon registration, Reno Phil staff will work to distribute wristbands for the adults to wear via mail. Any adults accompanying the school (teachers, support staff, chaperones, etc.) must have a wristband on prior to entry. Students will NOT have to wear a wristband.
Adults without a wristband will be denied entry. Please submit your numbers accordingly and provide an appropriate shipping address.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
May 9 and 10, 2024
Registration for the Spring 2024 YPCs is open. Click on the button below to register.
Individual donors, local businesses, and foundation support have allowed us to offer these concerts at no cost AND cover buses for Washoe County schools this year, so please don’t let cost be a barrier to attendance.
The spring 2024 YPCs will be in-person, live performances on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 and Friday, May 10th, 2024. The Reno Phil will perform The Orchestra Swings! “Swing” is many things. It’s a distinctive rhythmic feel; a musical era dominated by big band jazz; a style of dance that grew alongside the music; and that elusive but unmistakable feeling that results when musicians are deeply tuned into each other and playing in sync, or “in the pocket.” Through the Link Up repertoire, hands-on activities, and a culminating interactive performance with The Reno Phil, students will explore the elements that contribute to that magical moment when the orchestra starts to swing.
Repertoire highlights include...
Thomas Cabaniss: Come to Play
George Gershwin: I Got Rhythm
Duke Ellington: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)
Florence Price: Juba from Symphony No. 1
Leonard Bernstein: Riffs from Prelude, Fugue,
and Riffs
Jazz classic When the Saints Go Marching In
Courtney Bryan: Do Your Thing
For questions please email education@renophil.com.
Past performances
The series of virtual episodes produced in March 2021 is still available free of charge, along with classroom materials. Please email education@renophil.com for links and supplemental materials. The Spring 2023 YPC Link Up! The Orchestra Moves was held on May 4 and 5.
How are we doing?
All teachers are strongly encouraged to complete an evaluation form after the YPCs. The information and feedback provided by teachers is a key element in the planning of future Young People’s Concert programs. It is also used to secure grant funding for this program. Often teachers will send pictures or letters from the students reflecting their thoughts on the performance.
YPC Supporters
The Reno Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts would not be possible without the generous support of the following organizations:
Funded in part by the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission
E.L. Cord Foundation
John Dermody Ventures
The Thomas P. and Thelma B. Hart Foundation
Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation
IGT
The Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation
The Nell J. Redfield Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
Chris & Parky May
Stephen & Katherine Jenkins