The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Announces the 2014-2015 Family Concert Series

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra announces plans for the 2014.15 Family Concert series, which presents three matinee performances suited for the whole family. Performances include The Polar Express on Saturday, December 6, 2014; Fairytale Favorites on Sunday, February 15, 2015; and Disney in Concert on Sunday, April 26, 2015.

All three performances include pre-concert activities beginning at 1:30 p.m. sponsored by the Forte Volunteer League. Activities include an instrument petting zoo, composer station, and conductor station, among others.

All performances will be held in Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts at 2:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCES The Polar Express
December 6, 2014 | 2:30 p.m. Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Fairytale Favorites
February 15, 2015 | 2:30 p.m. Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Disney in Concert
April 26, 2015 | 2:30 p.m. Stuart Chafetz, conductor

Experience the magic of the holidays by taking a ride on Chris Van Alsburg's The Polar Express. This timeless tale of a boy who still believes makes every child hope to hear the ringing of Santa's bells. With music by Rob Kapilow and images from the book projected onstage, the words of this Caldecott Medal winner come to life through the MSO, Milwaukee Children's Choir, and narrator.

Composers tell stories through music by creating memorable melodies! The MSO explores these building blocks through some of the best-known fairytales and demonstrates how one composer uses all them in one of our favorite stories, The Firebird.

Your favorite stories come to life through Disney visuals and memorable melodies performed live. Experience scenes from Frozen, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, The Lion King, and more - a reminder that wishes can be made on stars, hope is eternal, and love conquers all.

ABOUT THE CONDUCTORS
American conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong, currently associate conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, is active with the orchestral and operatic repertories on the international stage. In his role with the MSO, Mr. Lecce-Chong works closely with renowned Music Director Edo de Waart and is directly responsible for leading over forty subscription, tour, education, and community concert performances annually. During the MSO's 2013.14 season, Mr. Lecce-Chong took the podium for a subscription concert of Leonard Bernstein's works, led the orchestra through its statewide tour of Wisconsin, and conducted a special three-week Chamber Series. He is a graduate of the Mannes College of Music, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree with honors in piano and orchestral conducting. Mr. Lecce-Chong also holds a diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied as a Martin and Sarah Taylor Fellow with renowned pedagogue Otto-Werner Mueller.

Stuart Chafetz, known for his ability to engage audiences with innovative concerts, is a conductor increasingly in demand with orchestras nationwide. His guest conducting appearances include the orchestras of San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Houston, Calgary, Edmonton, Florida, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Louisiana, Naples, New Mexico, Phoenix, San Francisco Ballet, and Virginia. As resident conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony from 2007-2011, Chafetz conducted over 75 concerts throughout the state of Wisconsin. In the summers, Chafetz spends his time at the Chautauqua Institution.

TICKETS & PRICING

Subscriptions are $75 per adult, and each paid adult subscription includes one child's subscription (age 12 and under) for free. Additional children's subscriptions can be purchased for $25 each. Please note that this pricing is not valid for box seats for Disney in Concert.

Single tickets to the Polar Express and Fairytale Favorites will be $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, and go on sale July 28, 2014.

For more information, please contact the ticket office at 414.291.7605 or visit mso.org. All programs are subject to change.

ABOUT THE MSO

Ranked among the top orchestras in the country, the MSO is the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the orchestra has received critical acclaim for artistic excellence. The orchestra's full-time professional musicians perform more than 135 concerts each season. A cornerstone organization in Milwaukee's arts community, the MSO provides enrichment and education activities for audiences of every age, economic status, and background.