HAMPTON ROADS, VA [September 9, 2019] Tickets for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s first-ever Sensory Friendly Concert are on sale now! Join the VSO on November 2, 2019 at 3PM at the Ferguson Center for the Arts for this inclusive and exciting event!
The event will deviate from a traditional symphony performance in several ways. The hour-long program has been specially designed to feature familiar classical pieces that also accommodate the anticipated sensory needs of audience members. The program includes well-known masterworks such as Copland’s Variations on a Shaker Melody, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 Movement 1, and Pachelbel’s Canon.
“This concert is intended to make the beautiful experience of attending a live symphonic concert comfortable for individuals for whom the traditional expectations of audience behavior may not be possible or desirable,” says Vice President of Orchestra Activities Dr. Christy Havens. “We want to create an environment where everyone is able to express themselves in their own ways.”
During the performance, audience members are invited to make use of the designated quiet areas, as well as fidget spinners and other sensory tools.
A step-by-step guide to what to expect at this performance, known as a “social story,” will be available at virginiasymphony.org in Hall staff have been specially trained in order to ensure a performance experience that comfortable for all in attendance.
The VSO is partnering with the Ferguson Center for the Arts, a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive venue, Families of Autistic Children in Tidewater (FACT), Faith Inclusion Network, Peninsula School for Autism, Faison Center, and Raven’s Way for this program.
Tickets for this performance are $12 each and are fully refundable. For more information about the Sensory Friendly Concert, or to purchase tickets, please call 757-892-6366 or visit virigniasymphony.org.
This Sensory Friendly Concert is supported in part by a generous grant from the American Orchestra’s Futures Fund, a program of the League of American Orchestras made possible by funding from the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation.
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be – even as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2020.
At the heart of the VSO’s narrative is innovation. In 1991 the VSO made a very bold move in appointing the gifted young American conductor JoAnn Falletta as its music director. Since then, the orchestra has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest arts performing organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events to educate, enlighten and entertain more than 100,000 residents and visitors each year. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. As it approaches its Centennial year, the Orchestra and its legions of fans look forward with anticipation as the VSO conducts a worldwide search for its next music director.
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September 9, 2019
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