concerts    just for kids     
2010/11—81th Season
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra plays over 60 concerts every season with over 30 different programs. Some use the full orchestra, some use a small one and some use a chamber ensemble, ten people or fewer. You can read about all of our different concert series to the right. We've got music and concerts for everyone. Hope to see you there!



TSO Percussion Ensemble - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa.


TSO String Quartet - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa.


TSO Wind Quintet - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa. Reservations are required by calling Miraval: 877-746-9049


TSO Wind Quintet - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa.Reservations are required by calling Miraval: 877-746-9049


TSO Flute, Viola, Harp Trio
TSO Flute, Viola, Harp Trio - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa.Reservations are required by calling Miraval: 877-746-9049


TSO Brass Quintet - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa. Reservations are required by calling Miraval: 877-746-9049


TSO Brass Quintet - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa. Reservations are required by calling Miraval: 877-746-9049


TSO Percussion Ensemble - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa. Reservations are required by calling Miraval: 877-746-9049


TSO String Quartet - Summer Music Series
Miraval Resort and Spa
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 4:40 PM

Spend a summer evening enjoying award-winning cuisine and music performed by the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Ensembles at the world famous Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa. Reservations are required by calling Miraval: 877-746-9049


TSO Wind Quintet
Wind Quintet - Just for Kids
Tucson Symphony Center
Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 10:00 AM

TSO Wind Quintet

These interactive ensemble concerts are designed to dazzle young children with their first taste of classical music. Filled with storytelling and a front row seat experience, these programs give families a fun learning experience to be enjoyed together.


George Hanson
Opening Night! Beethoven & Mozart - Classic Series
Tucson Music Hall
Friday, October 22, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor and piano

MOZART- Concerto for Piano No. 21 in C major
BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, ‘Eroica’

George Hanson opens the season conducting from the keyboard and playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, popularized by its use in the 60s classic film Elvira Madigan. Beethoven’s masterpiece 3rd symphony, ‘Eroica’, provides a spectacular finale to a festive opening night!


TSO Percussion Ensemble
Percussion Ensemble - Just for Kids
Tucson Symphony Center
Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 10:00 AM

TSO Percussion Ensemble

These interactive ensemble concerts are designed to dazzle young children with their first taste of classical music. Filled with storytelling and a front row seat experience, these programs give families a fun learning experience to be enjoyed together.


Stars of the Symphony
Stars of the Symphony - MasterWorks Series
Catalina Foothills High School
Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
TSO String Ensemble, Brass Quintet and Wind Quintet

NIELSEN - Woodwind Quintet in A Major, op. 43
TILSON THOMAS - Street Song
HANDEL - Concerto grosso in B minor, op. 6, no. 12
BRITTEN - Simple Symphony


Alexander Sitkovetsky
Tchaikovsky & Friends - Classic Series
Tucson Music Hall
Friday, November 19, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Alexander Sitkovetsky, violin

HIGDON - Blue Cathedral
BRUCH - Scottish Fantasy for Violin
TCHAIKOVSKY - Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy
TCHAIKOVSKY - Capriccio Italien

Two of the most often-requested works of Tchaikovsky’s repertoire, Romeo and Juliet and Capriccio Italien close a program featuring Bruch’s evocative Scottish Fantasy for Violin with guest violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky and Jennifer Higdon’s alluring Blue Cathedral.


TSO Chorus
Handel’s Messiah! - Concert Special
Catalina Foothills High School
Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
TSO Chorus, Bruce Chamberlain, director
Guest soloists


Mariangela Vacatello, Jorge Mester
Franck & Prokofiev - Classic Series
Tucson Music Hall
Friday, December 10, 2010 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 2:00 PM

Jorge Mester, guest conductor
Mariangela Vacatello, piano

BERLIOZ - Overture to Béatrice et Bénédict
PROKOFIEV - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major
FRANCK - Symphony in D minor

Prokofiev’s best known and loved piano concerto took the 2009 Van Cliburn jury by storm in the hands of finalist Mariangela Vacatello. The program concludes with Franck’s richly romantic Symphony in D minor.


Holiday Spectacular!
Holiday Spectacular! - TSO Pops! Series
Tucson Music Hall
Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Tucson Regional Ballet,
Linda Walker and Deborah Kenner, directors
Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School, John Contreras, director
Special guests

There is no place as festive, no music as joyful, as the TSO’s traditional holiday concert! Let this be the time and place to meet with family and friends to share the joyful sounds of the season! George Hanson returns to conduct the Holiday Spectacular! for the first time since 2003!


George Hanson
Marvelous Mozart - MasterWorks Series
Catalina Foothills High School
Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
COLEMAN - Long Ago, This Radiant Day
MOZART - Eine kleine Nachtmusik
MOZART - Symphony No. 40 in G minor


Lang Lang
LANG LANG - Concert Special
Tucson Music Hall
Monday, January 10, 2011 at 8:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Lang Lang, piano

SHOSTAKOVICH - Festive Overture, op. 96
BORODIN - In the Steppes of Central Asia
PROKOFIEV - March and Scherzo from The Love of Three Oranges
PROKOFIEV - Troika from Lieutenant Kijé
RACHMANINOFF - Vocalise
GLIÈRE - Russian Sailors’ Dance from The Red Poppy
RACHMANINOFF - Concerto for Piano No. 2 in C minor

Heralded as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet” by the New York Times, 27 year-old Lang Lang has played sold out recitals and concerts in every major city in the world. The TSO is proud to present this global, classical music superstar performing Rachmaninoff’s most enduringly popular Second Piano Concerto. The program opens with encore favorites of the great Russian composers Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Glière, Prokofiev and Borodin.


Dylana Jenson
Respighi, Rossini & Lalo - Classic Series
Tucson Music Hall
Friday, January 14, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Dylana Jenson, violin

ROSSINI - Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers
LALO - Symphonie espagnole
RESPIGHI - Fountains of Rome
RESPIGHI - Pines of Rome

Cruise the Mediterranean with Rossini’s Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers, Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, featuring violin virtuoso Dylana Jenson, and finish with a Roman holiday of Respighi’s Fountains and Pines.


Oz with Orchestra
OZ With Orchestra - TSO Pops! Series
Tucson Music Hall
Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Constantine Kitsopolous, guest conductor

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Oz with the TSO! Hear the TSO perform Harold Arlen’s timeless score live to the completely re-mastered film The Wizard Of Oz. Hum along with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley as they sing all your favorite classic tunes from the movie! Experience The Wizard of Oz you know and love – with a new twist. Don’t miss this spectacular event for kids of all ages.


TSO Brass Quintet
TSO Brass Quintet - Just for Kids
Tucson Symphony Center
Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 10:00 AM

TSO Brass Quintet

These interactive ensemble concerts are designed to dazzle young children with their first taste of classical music. Filled with storytelling and a front row seat experience, these programs give families a fun learning experience to be enjoyed together.


Elizabeth Joy Roe
Schumann Romance - MasterWorks Series
Catalina Foothills High School
Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Elizabeth Joy Roe, piano

C. SCHUMANN - Piano Trio in G minor
R. SCHUMANN - Overture, Scherzo & Finale
R. SCHUMANN - Concerto for Piano in A minor


Jeans ’n Classics
“Take it to the Limit” The Music of The Eagles - Concert Special
Tucson Music Hall
Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Jeans ’n Classics
Jeff Christmas, guest conductor

Jeans ’n Classics, the innovative Canadian rock ensemble, performs the music of The Eagles with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra! This concert spans the music of one of the world’s most widely-loved bands and includes the album “Hotel California” in its entirety. Hear all their hits like you have never heard them before and “Take it to the Limit”!


Terrence Wilson
Dancing with Liszt & Ravel - Classic Series
Tucson Music Hall
Friday, February 11, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Terrence Wilson, piano

LISZT - Mephisto Waltz No. 1
LISZT - Concerto for Piano No. 1 in E-flat major
RAVEL - Rapsodie espagnole
RAVEL - La valse

In his triumphant return to the TSO, Terrence Wilson performs piano virtuoso Franz Liszt’s Concerto for Piano No. 1 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth. This bravura program also includes Liszt’s great Mephisto Waltz and Ravel’s dance-inspired Rapsodie espagnole and La valse.


Lawrence Golan
A Night at the Oscars - TSO Pops! Series
Tucson Music Hall
Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Lawrence Golan, guest conductor

Lights, Camera, Action—A Night at the Oscars®! The TSO Pops! rolls out the red carpet for a night of blockbuster, Oscar® award-winning, classic film music. Hear your favorite hits from classic films such as Titanic, ET, Gone with the Wind, and Dr. Zhivago, plus a special medley of Disney and John Williams greats. Come dressed in your ’red-carpet’ best or as your favorite actor or movie hero and let the paparazzi snap away!


TSO String Quartet
String Quartet - Just for Kids
Tucson Symphony Center
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 10:00 AM

TSO String Quartet

These interactive ensemble concerts are designed to dazzle young children with their first taste of classical music. Filled with storytelling and a front row seat experience, these programs give families a fun learning experience to be enjoyed together.


Aaron Boyd
Virtuoso Violin & Haydn - MasterWorks Series
Catalina Foothills High School
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Aaron Boyd, violin

BEETHOVEN - Overture to Coriolan
VIEUXTEMPS - Concerto No. 5 for Violin in A minor
HAYDN - Symphony No. 92 in G major, “Oxford”


George Hanson
Scheherazade - Classic Series
Tucson Music Hall
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor

BRAHMS - Academic Festival Overture
BRAHMS - Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV - Scheherazade

Rimsky-Korsakov’s legendary Scheherazade is coupled with two of Brahms’ most popular orchestral works.


Bernadette Peters
BERNADETTE PETERS - Concert Special
Tucson Music Hall
Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Bernadette Peters
Marvin Laird, guest conductor
George Hanson, conductor

This illustrious actress and Broadway star has captivated audiences across the nation. Winner of Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, and Golden Globe Awards, Ms. Peters will leave you breathless with dramatic performances of classic and popular tunes from the stage and the silver screen. One Night Only - she lights up the Tucson Music Hall with the TSO!


Steve Lippia
Simply Swingin’ - TSO Pops! Series
Tucson Music Hall
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Steve Lippia
Bob Bernhardt, guest conductor

Hear the biggest hits of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and Nat King Cole in smooth, classic, velvety style performed by Steve Lippia with the TSO Pops! adding big band flair. Back by popular demand!


Johanna Lundy
Pictures at an Exhibition - Classic Series
Tucson Music Hall
Friday, April 8, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 2:00 PM

George Hanson, conductor
Johanna Lundy, horn

GLINKA - Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla
GLIÉRE - Concerto for Horn in B-flat major
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL - Pictures at an Exhibition

Ravel’s orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition is a symphonic “top 10.” Rounding out the program from the great Russian Romantics are Glinka’s Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla and Glière’s Concerto for Horn featuring Johanna Lundy, TSO’s principal horn, in her solo debut.