Children and Families
The Symphony and Classical Music for Kids, Teens, and Families
Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to promoting youth music education in our community. If you are interested in experiencing the wonderful world of classical music, take a look at some of these resources on the web that will inspire and entertain!
Discover the Orchestra
From the Sydney Youth Orchestras, “George Meets the Orchestra”
Was that an elephant? Oh my, that’s shiny! Discover the instruments of the orchestra with these fun video clips from Cleveland Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra.
Designed specifically for students ages 3-6 and their families, these videos by the Cleveland Orchestra introduce key elements of music education in a bright, fun, and engaging way!
See all the instrument videos here.
A fun and informative video learning series by Minnesota Orchestra with Sarah Hicks, principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall.
Learn an instrument and rock on!
Holy Family Conservatory offers music lessons
Contact us to get more recommendations for private instruction on your instrument.
Keep practicing! Show ’em what you got.
MSO Education Initiatives
MSO has partnered with Manitowoc Public School District (MPSD) to offer a music-in-the-schools artist residency. Musicians from MSO work with MPSD middle school students, in their classroom, all year long. They perform for the learners, demonstrate for the learners, provide mentorship, offer supplementary instruction, and help instill the transferable skills learned in music.
The data is overwhelming. Participate in music ensembles in school and your test scores are higher, language and reasoning is more developed, coordination is strengthened, engagement in school is enhanced, empathy towards other cultures is increased, pattern recognition is improved, imagination and intellectual curiosity is heightened, sense of teamwork is deepened, discipline is stronger. MSO musicians Carrie Kulas, violin; Jane Finch, viola; Michael Dewhirst, cello form the trio and work with MPSD music teachers Monica Hrudik and Tony Bauer.
MSO musicians Carrie Kulas, violin; Jane Finch, viola; and Michael Dewhirst, cello appear as part of a residency program at Washington and Wilson Middle Schools in the fall of 2021. Thanks to Monica Hrudik, Rebecca Nyenhuis, Tony Bauer, and MPSD Music Parents Association for working with MSO to realize this residency!
MSO sponsors special events designed for families and youth, including concerts, collaborative performing opportunities, as well as master classes and technique classes with visiting artists. For example, during the 2018-19 season, MSO provided students with the opportunity to learn from guest soloists John Daniel, William Hampton and Garth Neustadter.
Youth Pricing is offered for our concerts and season ticket packages. We also offer discounted family ticket packages each season—watch for season ticket announcements!
MSO projects and scholarships are funded through the direct efforts of the MSO Board of Directors and its Education Committee, as well as through the generous donations of businesses and individuals. If you would like to support our education initiatives, please click the donate button to make your donation.