Jane H. Kesson School Concert Program

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Jane H. Kesson School Concert Program is the ideal way to expose students in grades 3–5 to the exciting and powerful art form of orchestral music. School Concerts familiarize students with the environment and traditions of a concert hall, equip them with fundamental musical vocabulary, and help cultivate a lifelong interest in classical music.

School Concerts 2023–24

This season, The Philadelphia Orchestra will present a vibrant and interactive in-person concert experience in our very own Verizon Hall. The repertoire performed in this concert will be related to this season’s theme, changing seasons. Registration for in-person School Concerts will open in early September. We hope you can join us for this special educational experience.

Dates:

Concert 1: March 4, 2024, 10:30am
Concert 2: March 5, 2024, 10:30am
Concert 3: March 6, 2024, 10:30am
Concert 4: March 6, 2024, 12:15pm

Title: The Changing Seasons

Program:

Tristan Rais-Sherman, Conductor and Host
David Kim, Violin

SPRING
Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons, "Spring", First Movement
Astor Piazzolla - Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, "Primavera"
Gabriela Lena Frank - Leyendas, "Chiasqui"
Robert Schumann - Symphony No. 1, "Spring", First Movement

SUMMER
Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons, "Summer", Third Movement
Florence Price - Andante Moderato, Opening section
Felix Mendelssohn - Midsummer Nights' Dream, Overture

AUTUMN
Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons, "Autumn", Third Movement
Astor Piazzolla - Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, "Otoño"
Ludwig van Beethoven​ - Symphony No. 6, Third Movement

WINTER
Antonio Vivaldi - Four Seasons, "Winter", First Movement
Pyotr Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 1, "Winter Dreams"

Philadelphia Public Schools Registration


General Registration

Teachers' Lounge

School Concert Video Experience

In addition to the School Concert programs happening live in Verizon Hall, The Philadelphia Orchestra is happy to offer a FREE School Concert Video Experience for teachers to share with their students during the month of April. This video is designed for grades 1–6, though any age can enjoy this vibrant program. The video is about 20–25 minutes long and will be released on April 1, 2024 via e-mail to registered teachers.

School Concert Video Registration

Frequently Asked Questions

Billy Joel Fund for Music Education

Established in 2008 with an extraordinary donation from legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel, the Billy Joel Fund for Music Education is earmarked to support and augment music education in the School District of Philadelphia. The Fund subsidizes tickets and transportation, allowing School District of Philadelphia Schools to receive 73 tickets and bus transportation to a School Concert each year. 

To receive tickets and busing, schools and their music teachers must commit to attending a Teacher Workshop, devoting instructional time for preparation and reflection, and completing post-concert evaluation surveys. Please note that eligibility for the program is limited to elementary and middle schools within the School District of Philadelphia only.

About Jane H. Kesson

Jane H. Kesson (1926–2017) was a Philadelphia Orchestra patron since the age of 12. She went on to become a music educator for 45 years, teaching grades K–12 in public schools. During her career, and even in retirement, she brought hundreds of students to Orchestra concerts each year. In recognition of her extraordinary bequest, the Orchestra renamed its School Concert Program in honor of Miss Kesson in October 2018.

The Jane H. Kesson School Concert Program is funded in part by the Acadia
Fund, the Annenberg Foundation, Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation, Donald E. Barb, Esq. and the Rev. Bruce H. Davidson, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., the Julius and Ray Charlestein Foundation in memory of Morton and Malvina Charlestein, the Connelly Foundation, the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, Mr. Colin Gardner and Ms. Erika L. Faust, the Hess Foundation, JKG Florida Business Corporation, the Billy Joel Fund for Music Education, Mrs. Beth Ann Wahl Kolpen and Mr. Jack Kolpen, Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, the Nancy and William A. Loeb Student Education Fund, Philadelphia Insurance Co., Linda S. Rothermel, the Volunteer Committees for The Philadelphia Orchestra, and an anonymous donor.