The Cleveland Orchestra Kicks Off 2012-13 Family Concerts and PNC Musical Rainbows Series, 10/28

The Cleveland Orchestra announces its 2012-13 Family Concert Series, for children ages 7 and older, and PNC Musical Rainbow Series, for children ages 3 to 6. Both concert series are designed to introduce young people to classical music, and feature performances by Cleveland Orchestra musicians with special guest artists. Subscriptions for both series, as well as single tickets, are now available.

2012-13 Family Series Concerts

Three Family Concerts will take place during the 2012-13 season, in October, March, and May. Led by conductors Kelly Corcoran, Robert Franz, and Michael Butterman, the October and May concerts will be presented on Sundays at 2:00 p.m., the March concert will take place on a Friday at 7:00 p.m. In addition to the performances, the Family Concert Series also includes free, pre-concert activities, which begin one hour before each performance, and include Instrument Discovery, where children can try various instruments.

Tonight, October 28, at “Halloween Spooktacular!,” families are invited to wear Halloween costumes and join The Cleveland Orchestra for an afternoon of fun ghost tales in this story-based program featuring Halloween favorites including Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky), Danse Macabre (Saint-Saëns), the “Infernal Dance” from The Firebird (Stravinsky), and the Tale of Baba Yaga (Mussorgsky). Led by conductor Kelly Corcoran.

On Friday, March 8, The Cleveland Orchestra and concert-goers, joined by The Singing Angels as special guests, submerge themselves in wet, watery, wonderful music featuring Disney’s beloved theme to The Little Mermaid, Handel’s Water Music, and more. “Symphony Under the Sea” will be enhanced by fish created by local young artists that will help set the underwater-themed concert. Led by conductor Robert Franz.

On Sunday, May 12, the 2012-13 Family Concert Series concludes as The Cleveland Orchestra invites the audience to discover how composers use music to bring characters and plots to life, using imagination to create their own musical story. This highly interactive concert includes such classics as Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King, Rossini’s William Tell Ouverture, and Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.

2012-13 PNC Musical Rainbow Series

The Cleveland Orchestra’s PNC Musical Rainbow programs are a fun way for children to learn about instruments of the orchestra, one at a time. Energetic host MaryAnn Nagel leads singing, clapping, and moving to the music while Cleveland Orchestra musicians and guests perform short solo selections and kid-friendly tunes, and demonstrate their instruments.

The Vivacious Viola will be presented on November 30 and December 1 with violist Lisa Boyko. The Fabulous Flute will be presented on March 22 and 23, 2013 with flutist Marisela Sager. The Virtuoso Violin will be presented on April 26 and 27, 2013 with violinist Beth Woodside. The Happy Horn will be presented on May 24 and 25, 2013 with horn player Hans Clebsch.

In addition to the five-concert PNC Musical Rainbow Series, the 2012-13 season also includes three special PNC Holiday Musical Rainbow programs. Each program focuses on the music, culture, and traditions of the holidays. The Music of Chanukah will be presented on Friday, December 7, at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday, December 9, at 12:30 p.m. at The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood. Children will love the fun and surprises of the Christmas Brass Quintet on Friday, December 14, at 10:00 a.m., and Saturday, December 15, at 11:00 a.m. at Severance Hall. Audiences can enjoy All About Kwanzaa on Thursday, December 13, at 10:00 a.m. at the Karamu House in a program that includes music, songs, and storytelling.

TICKETS: A three-concert subscription package for the 2012-13 Family Concert Series is now available. Subscribers save up to 33% off the price of single tickets and are guaranteed the same reserved seats for all three concerts. Subscription prices are $30 or $45 for all three concerts. Full boxes (8 seats) are available for $480 for all three concerts. Single tickets for Family Concerts are now on sale. Prices range from $15 to $22.

Four-concert subscriptions for the PNC Musical Rainbow Series are now on sale. Subscriptions are $20 for the series, a savings of nearly 30% off the price of single tickets. Three subscription series times are available: Friday at 10:00 a.m. and Saturday at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Individual tickets for the three Holiday Musical Rainbows are $7 each. They may be purchased with a Musical Rainbow subscription.

For more information about the Family Concert Series and Musical Rainbow concerts, or to order tickets, call the Cleveland Orchestra Subscription Office at (216) 231-1111 or 800-686-1141 or visit clevelandorchestra.com.