Cleveland Orchestra Announces 2018-19 PNC Music Explorers Series And American Greetings Family Concerts

The Cleveland Orchestra offers captivating opportunities for children and families to learn about and experience classical musical in an energetic, kid-friendly environment. The 2018-19 PNC Music Explorers series, for children ages 3-6, and American Greetings Family Concert series, for ages 7 and older, are designed to introduce young people to the magic and wonder of classical music. Subscriptions for each series are now available by visiting the Severance Hall Ticket Office, clevelandorchestra.com, and by calling 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141. Tickets to individual performances go on sale in late summer. The Orchestra's popular "Under 18s Free" program is available for all concerts (see below for more information.)

---

2018-19 PNC Music Explorers Series

After more than 30 years of "Musical Rainbows" it's time to hit the 'refresh' button.

Starting this fall, the PNC Musical Rainbow Series will be transformed into the PNC Music Explorers series. Children and families will learn about the instruments of the orchestra, one at a time, with Cleveland Orchestra musicians and guests, and an energetic host who engages children through singing, clapping, and moving to the music. Each 30-minute, music-packed adventure also features short selections and instrument demonstrations designed to engage and entertain young music explorers - just right for children 3-6 years old.

New this season, kids and families can be music explorers at home by watching fun, 5-minute videos (starring Major Scale and Ranger Rhythm) emailed prior to each Music Explorers performance.

· Heavenly Harps will be presented on October 5 and 6, with Cleveland Orchestra Principal Harpist Trina Struble Bourne and guest harpist Jody Guinn.

· Victorious Viola will be presented on November 16 and 17, with Cleveland Orchestra violist Lisa Boyko.

· The Cheerful Cello will be presented on March 8 and 9, with Cleveland Orchestra cellist David Alan Harrell.

· The Terrific Trumpet will be presented on March 15 and 16, with Cleveland Orchestra trumpet player Michael Miller.

· The final Music Explorers in the series is The Tremendous Tuba, presented on May 3 and 4, with Kenneth Heinlein, Principal Tuba of the Akron Symphony and Erie Philharmonic.

· In addition to the five-concert PNC Music Explorers series, the 2018-19 season also includes special PNC Holiday Music Explorers programs, focusing on the music and traditions of the holidays. It includes the Christmas Brass Quintet, featuring members of the brass section of the Orchestra, and will be presented on December 7 and 8 in the Concert Hall at Severance Hall.

PNC Music Explorers concerts are endowed by the Pysht Fund.

---

2018-19 American Greetings Family Concert Series

On Sunday, October 28, the musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra will be dressed in their Halloween best - the audience is encouraged to come dressed up too - for an afternoon of deliciously spooky musical fun in Severance Hall, decorated for Halloween! The Halloween Spooktacular, a program filled with magic Tricks and musical Treats in celebration of Halloween, features Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice and the rattling bones of Saint-Saëns's Danse Macabre. A costume contest will take place at 1:00 p.m. along with Instrument Discovery and more Halloween fun!

The hilarious Magic Circle Mime Co. joins The Cleveland Orchestra for The Mozart Experience, Friday, February 8. When a mischievous street musician is caught playing the orchestra's grand piano by the conductor, she's given the chance to become a modern-day Mozart. Now faced with choices and dilemmas similar to those of Mozart, she leads audiences through a musical performance that captivates and teaches about the legendary composer's life.

From the royal march of the lion to the lumbering waltz of an elephant, The Carnival of the Animals concert on Sunday, May 12 will enchant audiences with its humor and charm. The Cleveland Orchestra brings an array of animals to life in whimsical and clever ways during Saint-Saëns's classic Carnival of the Animals. Featuring the renowned Labèque Sisters on piano, this musical escapade of the animal kingdom will delight children of all ages.

Each Cleveland Orchestra Family Concert also features fun and interactive preconcert activities including the popular Instrument Discovery zone (a kid-favorite!), an interactive, hands-on opportunity for children to try various orchestral instruments and discover their inner musician. Instrument Discovery and other free pre-concert activities begin one hour prior to each performance.

The Family Concert series is supported by The Giant Eagle Foundation.

Cleveland Orchestra Music Explorers and Family Concerts are part of a broad array of educational programs designed to foster a love of music for a lifetime. For more information, contact The Cleveland Orchestra's Department of Education and Community Programs at 216-231-7355 or visit https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/education-and-community/overview/

The Cleveland Orchestra's "Under 18s Free" program offers free tickets (one per regular-priced adult paid admission) to young people, 17 and under, for PNC Music Explorers concerts and American Greetings Family concerts. "Under 18s Free" tickets are not available for Box seating.

"Under 18s Free" is a program of The Cleveland Orchestra's Center for Future Audiences. The Center, created with a lead endowment gift from the Maltz Family Foundation, was established to fund programs to develop new generations of audiences for Cleveland Orchestra concerts in Northeast Ohio. "Under 18s Free" continues to develop young audiences by making attending Orchestra concerts affordable for families, offering free tickets to young people, 17 and under, for select Severance Hall concerts. For more information on "Under 18s Free" and other Center for Future Audiences ticketing programs, please visit: https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/support-and-volunteers/center-for-future-audiences/.

Five-concert subscriptions for the PNC Music Explorers series are now on sale. Subscriptions are $25 for the 5-concert series, a savings of nearly 30% off the price of individual tickets. Two subscription series times are available: Friday at 10:00 a.m. and Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Individual tickets to the Christmas Brass Quintet concerts are priced at $7 and may be added to a PNC Music Explorers series subscription.

A three-concert subscription package for the 2018-19 American Greetings Family Concert series is available now through the Cleveland Orchestra Ticket Office. Subscribers save up to 33% off the price of individual concert tickets and are guaranteed the same reserved seats for all three concerts. Subscription prices are $30 or $60 for all three concerts.

Tickets to individual performances go on sale in late summer.

For more information about the PNC Music Explorers programs and American Greetings Family Concert series, or to subscribe, call the Cleveland Orchestra Ticket Office at 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141, or visit clevelandorchestra.com.

The Severance Hall Ticket Office is located on street level in the Smith Lobby. The entrance and 15-minute Ticket Service parking are along the west side of the building, on East Boulevard. Severance Hall Ticket Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From September through May, the Ticket Office is also open on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed Sundays and holidays except for those days with performances, when the Ticket Office will be open three hours prior to each performance).

For information about parking for Severance Hall concerts, click here.

All programs, artists, and prices are subject to change.

The Cleveland Orchestra's commitment to education and community service is as old as the Orchestra itself and has never been more important. Franz Welser-M?st leads the Orchestra into its second century with a renewed commitment to music education and community engagement, based on his belief that every child should be touched by music, that the arts are critical to a well-rounded education, and that learning is a lifelong pursuit and journey. The Cleveland Orchestra has introduced more than 4 million young people to symphonic music through live concert experiences and performances over the past ten decades. Today, with the support of many generous individual, foundation, corporate, and governmental funding partners, the Orchestra's educational and community programs reach more than 60,000 young people and adults annually, helping to foster a love of music for a lifetime.