Concert for Very Young People

Rebecca Sheir, Narrator Suzanne Nelsen, Bassoon Rachel Childers, Horn Cynthia Meyers, Piccolo Bracha Malkin, Violin Benjamin Levy, Bass Allen Feinstein, Composer

Concerts for Very Young People bring BSO musicians and their youngest audiences closer together in a series of fun, interactive performances tied to educational themes. The performances offer young children an opportunity to engage with high-quality musical experiences in an intimate and welcoming setting.

Once Upon a Time—with Music! are themed half-hour programs for children and families built around new works that integrate audience participation into original stories with music. Today’s program, A Whale of a Tale, is performed by a chamber ensemble of BSO musicians and narrated by Rebecca Sheir of Circle Round. The performers and their instruments represent characters in the tales. The flute is Mira, the little girl who is the hero of the story. The violin is Mira’s mother; the bassoon is a playful seagull; the French horn is the beautiful (and gigantic) whale!

The program consists of three main sections; the main story relies on audience participation at climactic moments, with children and families singing along to a well-known song at key points in the story. A second story asks the children to use their imaginations—a scenario is presented, and music follows—then the children are asked what they think happened in the story based on the music they heard. The program wraps up with a singalong to Row, Row, Row Your Boat, ending with a virtuosic musical flourish by the performers.