For many children, a Young People’s Concert is more than their first symphony performance. It’s their first opportunity to experience the power of live orchestral music.
Each year, the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra welcomes elementary students from Wichita Falls ISD and surrounding school districts to a special daytime concert designed just for young audiences. Through music, storytelling, and interactive learning, students discover that an orchestra is far more than a collection of instruments. It’s a team of artists working together to tell stories without words.
A Concert Designed for Young Minds
Unlike a traditional evening performance, the Young People’s Concert is created specifically for elementary students.
The concert is:
- Age appropriate
- Interactive
- Educational
- Entertaining
- Approximately 45 minutes long
Students hear a full symphony orchestra performing live while learning how music communicates emotion, tells stories, and brings imagination to life.
Learning Begins Before the Concert
One of the unique features of the WFSO Young People’s Concert is that the experience starts in the classroom.
Teachers receive a free curriculum guide that introduces students to:
- The instrument families
- Concert etiquette
- Musical vocabulary
- Listening activities
- Classroom lessons connected to the concert
By the time students arrive, they already recognize many of the instruments they’ll see on stage, making the live experience even more meaningful.
Meeting the Orchestra
During the performance, students don’t simply listen. They discover how an orchestra works.
They may learn:
- How strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion each contribute their own sound
- What a conductor actually does
- How composers use music to tell stories
- How musicians work together as one ensemble
Many students leave recognizing instruments they had never seen before!
Every Year Brings Something New
Each Young People’s Concert has its own theme.
For the 2026 program, The Conductor’s Spellbook, students will experience an interactive musical adventure narrated by acclaimed composer Paul Dooley. The performance introduces audiences to the orchestra, its instruments, and even gives students a glimpse into the art of conducting.
The accompanying, TEKS-aligned curriculum for teachers can be accessed here.
Why It Matters
Elementary school is often when students begin thinking about which fine arts electives they might pursue.
A live orchestra concert can spark an interest that lasts for years. Some students may decide to join band or orchestra. Others may simply develop a lifelong appreciation for live music.
Every child walks away with something different, but nearly every child leaves having experienced something they can’t get from a recording or a screen.
A Community Investment
Thanks to the generous support of sponsors, the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra provides the Young People’s Concert and accompanying curriculum at no cost to participating students and teachers. Each year, more than 1,500 elementary students attend, making it one of WFSO’s most impactful educational programs.
Whether a student becomes a professional musician or simply a lifelong concertgoer, every musical journey begins with curiosity. The Young People’s Concert is designed to nurture exactly that, one performance at a time.
Want to support our education programs?
A $100 contribution can send 4 students to the Young People’s Concert. Give today to be part of making this program come to life!
