SYMPHONY IN OUR COMMUNITY

Music is meant to be shared. We consider it our privilege and responsibility to contribute to arts education for people of all ages and stages in Nova Scotia. We offer interactive and engaging community programs for schools, families, kids, under-30s, and adults.

SCHOOLS & TEACHERS

Symphony Nova Scotia’s school programs offer young people the chance to engage with orchestra members in a low-barrier, hands-on way. Our musicians truly enjoy the opportunity to meet and mentor over 15,000 Nova Scotian children each year, including elementary, junior high, and senior high school students.

Link Up – This Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute program pairs Symphony Nova Scotia with elementary students at local schools to explore orchestral repertoire through a hands-on music curriculum, culminating in a concert where they sing, play recorder, and/or play the violin with the orchestra from their seats.

School Concerts – Our full orchestra regularly visits schools across Halifax. This 40-minute program is designed to give students an opportunity to experience the full symphony orchestra in a fun and engaging concert.

School Dress Rehearsals – Students in grades four and up can watch and listen to the symphony in action as they prepare for a concert. These rehearsals allow them to see the symphony onstage at a very reduced price.

Student Matinees – Concerts from the Symphony’s regular lineup are performed for audiences of students.

New Germany Outreach Program – This program provides students in New Germany, Nova Scotia with the opportunity to visit Halifax and experience a live performance by Symphony Nova Scotia.

Redge Craig Memorial Workshop – This instrumental music workshop is held annually at a Nova Scotia school in memory of Redge Craig, a social worker and mentor to many. The workshop’s goal is to connect the Symphony’s orchestra members with aspiring young musicians, who may not otherwise have the opportunity.

UNDER 30S & ADULTS

As people dedicated to life-long learning, we’re pleased to offer a number of chances for under-30s and adults to explore orchestral music more deeply. We strive to meet the needs of all learners by offering a variety of different ways to delve further into the music we play and hear.

TD Under-30 Access Pass – This pass provides the opportunity for students and those under age 30 to receive $16 tickets for our Masterworks, Baroque, Festival, Messiah, and Two Orchestras concerts. Sponsored by TD.

Library Series – Audience members of all ages get up close and personal with the Library Players at these free noon-hour concerts featuring beautiful music and informative stories. Sponsored by Wilsons Fuel Co. Limited. Musically Speaking – Each season, we present a behind-the-scenes look at great composers through our annual Festival. This combination of a concert and lecture features live music, multimedia presentations, entertaining stories, and firsthand perspectives from our hosts.

Pre-concert Chats – Our Masterworks concerts are preceded by free pre-concert chats at 6:45 pm on the evening of each performance in the Sculpture Court (just outside the Rebecca Cohn auditorium). Our regular speaker is Dalhousie University professor Adrian Hoffman.

Post-concert Q&As – These free question and answer periods take place immediately after our Masterworks concerts, and a few special concerts. The audience is given the opportunity to ask the conductor and guest artist questions about the music, their performance, or even the weather!

Symphony 101 – Music lecturer Adrian Hoffman leads free adult classes about music, orchestras, composers, and more in a relaxed, accessible format at the Halifax Central Library’s Paul O’Regan Hall.

Seniors Concerts – We are pleased to offer free, full-orchestra concerts especially for seniors on Tuesdays (when Halifax Transit is free for seniors) at the Halifax Central Library’s Paul O’Regan Hall.

FAMILIES & KIDS

Give your child the gift of music during those formative years. Symphony Nova Scotia’s programs for kids and families offer parents and caregivers the chance to be a part of a child’s first experience with the symphony.

Family Series – Symphony Nova Scotia’s Family Series provides free musical fun for all ages. These engaging, high-spirited concerts also include interactive learning opportunities, as well as a “sensory friendly” performance for those with autism or developmental disabilities.

Musical Munchkins – This fun and free program for three- to five-year-olds at local libraries offers interactive learning with Symphony musicians.

Open Dress Rehearsals – Symphony Nova Scotia’s Open Dress Rehearsals are an opportunity for audiences of all ages to experience the symphony in a low-risk, low-cost rehearsal setting.

Home School Programs – Symphony Nova Scotia helps home-schoolers with arts education. Our programs encourage youth to pursue excellence in playing while showing the incredible versatility of orchestral music.

Symphony Week & Culture Days – This annual week of free concerts and events in local libraries, museums, art galleries, and public spaces brings the orchestra out into our community.

TOURING PROGRAMS

Symphony Nova Scotia is truly Nova Scotia’s orchestra. Over the past several years, Symphony Nova Scotia has performed for communities across Nova Scotia:

2015/16 Season • Bedford, Clayton Park, Cole Harbour, Middle Sackville, Porter’s Lake, and Shad Bay (school concerts), and various schools through the Link Up program • Dartmouth, Lunenburg, Wolfville (concert performances)

2014/15 Season • Beaver Bank, Bedford, Clayton Park, Cole Harbour, Dartmouth, Mahone Bay, and Tantallon (school concerts), and various schools through the Link Up program • Dartmouth, Lunenburg, Wolfville (concert performances) • Pictou County (Beyond the Hall)

2013/14 season • Clayton Park, Cole Harbour, Elmsdale, Eastern Passage, Hammonds Plains, Lower Sackville, Rockingham (school concerts) • Dartmouth, Lunenburg, Wolfville (concert performances)

2012/13 season • Lunenburg, Wolfville (concert performances)

2011/12 season • Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea, Dartmouth, Musquodoboit Harbour, Waverley (school concerts) • Lunenburg, Wolfville (concert performances)

2010/11 season • Lawrencetown, Eastern Passage, Dartmouth (school concerts) • Lunenburg, Wolfville (concert performances)

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Symphony Nova Scotia has performed in partnership with many other presenters and special events, including:

• Halifax Dance, Mermaid Theatre: The Nutcracker (annually since 1990) • Halifax Public Libraries: The Library Series (annually since 1990) • Halifax Public Libraries: Musical Munchkins (annually since 2006) • NSLC Port of Wines Festival: Winemakers’ Dinner (annually since 2009) • Halifax Dance: Viennese Opera Ball (annually since 2012) • Musique Royale Concert Series (annually since 2012) • Canada’s Ballet Jörgen (annually since 2014) • Hal-Con (annually since 2015) • Halifax Pop Explosion: Dan Mangan (2015 & 2012), Whitehorse (2014), and Mo Kenney (2013), Amelia Curran (2011), Basia Bulat (2010), Final Fantasy (2009), (2008), Gordie Sampson (2007), Joel Plaskett (2006) • Acadia Performing Arts Series: The Four Seasons with Robert Uchida (2016), Terry Tam and Lorraine Min (2015), Magnificent Mozart (2013), Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (2012), Robert Uchida performing Brahms (2011), Denise Djokic (2010), Janina Fialkowska (2010) • Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Nova Scotia: The Gondoliers (2012), The Yeomen of the Guard (2011), HMCS Pinafore (2010) • Maritime Museum of the Atlantic: Family Series (2014-2016) • Nova Scotia Craft Beer Association: Beer & Beethoven (2015-2016) • Phoenix Youth Programs: The Nutcracker Luncheon (2005-2014) • St. Cecilia Concert Society: Symphony on the Shore Series (2007-2012) • Colchester East Hants Hospice Society (2014) • Atlantic Ballet Theatre: Beethoven’s Fidelio (2012 & 2010) • Atlantic Film Festival, Guild of Canadian Film Composers: Composer-Director Mentorship Program (2010) • Royal Canadian Navy, Stadacona Band: Beer and Beethoven (2010) • Millbrook First Nation: Cultural Exchange (2010) • Canadian New Music Network: Forum 2010 – Partnering Diversity (2010) COMMUNITY COMPLIMENTS PROGRAM

Symphony Nova Scotia is delighted to partner with other not-for-profit community organizations to provide free attendance to lower-income families and adult learners through the Community Compliments program:

• Halifax Humanities 101 • Halifax Music Co-op • Metro Community Housing • Nova Scotia Community Foundation • Parker Street Food Bank • Phoenix Youth Programs • QEII Health Sciences Centre • Spryfield Single Parents’ Centre/Association • YWCA Halifax Family/Child Care Program

OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Symphony Nova Scotia is proud to be involved in many facets of our great community, partnering with a wide variety of other organizations, presenters, and venues, including:

• Alderney Landing • Art Gallery of Nova Scotia • Discovery Centre • East Coast Music Awards • Feed Nova Scotia • Hal-Con • Halifax City Hall • Halifax Forum • Halifax Public Libraries • Long & McQuade Musical Instruments • Maritime Museum of the Atlantic • Music Nova Scotia • Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra • Pier 21 • Province House