What do I wear?
There is no official dress code at our concerts. Average attire is business casual.   We want you to feel comfortable at our concerts, so wear what feels good!

What is the smoking policy?
Smoking is not permitted inside the building.

What happens if I arrive late for the concert?
As a courtesy to performers and patrons, latecomers arriving after the concertmaster has taken the stage will not be seated until an appropriate break in the performance. The ushers will let you know when it is ok to go in.

When and where is the pre-concert conversation with Music Director Robin Fountain?
Pre-concert conversations are free of charge and offer a rare opportunity to learn about the evening’s repertoire.  They are held in the South Training Room, which is down the stairs to the left of the main entrance.

May I take photographs of the performance?
Sorry, no photography is allowed inside the audience auditorium. The flash of a camera can be extremely distracting to our musicians!

Do I need a ticket for my child?
Yes, everyone attending a symphony performance at must have a ticket including children.

What time does seating begin?
Seating begins 30 minutes prior to the concert start time.

At the beginning of the concert, the concertmaster will come onstage. The audience claps as a welcome, and as a sign of appreciation to all the musicians. After the orchestra tunes, Maestro Fountain and possibly a soloist will come onstage. Everyone claps to welcome them, too. This is also a good moment to make sure your program is open, so you can see the names of the pieces that will be played and their order. When everything settles down, the music begins. Just listen and enjoy! The audience doesn’t really applaud again until the end of the piece. In most classical concerts, unlike jazz or pop, the audience never applauds during the music. They wait until the end of each piece. But this can be a little tricky, because many pieces seem to end several times – in other words, they have several parts, or movements. These are listed in your program. Not sure when the piece is over? Watch the conductor, who will lower the baton at the conclusion of a work. When in doubt, it’s always safe to wait and follow what the rest of the audience does.

There’s a funny thing about coughing – the less worried you are about it, the less likely you are to feel the urge. So chances are you’ll feel less need to cough if you’re prepared.

• Be sure to visit the water fountain in the lobby before the concert and at intermission.
• If you have a cold, take some cough medicine in advance and bring wax paper-wrapped – or unwrapped – lozenges with you. Have a few out and ready when the music begins.
• Allow yourself to become involved in listening to the music and in watching the performers. The more you are absorbed in what’s going on, the less likely you are to cough.
• If you absolutely can’t restrain yourself, try to wait for the end of a movement. Or “bury” your cough in a loud passage of music. If this is impossible, and you feel a coughing fit coming on, it’s perfectly acceptable to quietly exit the concert hall. Don’t be embarrassed – your fellow listeners will probably appreciate your concern for their listening experience.

What should I do with my cell phone during the concert?

Turn it off! The same goes for pagers and alarm watches. It’s a good idea to double-check in the few minutes before the concert begins, and again as intermission draws to a close. Better still, leave them at home if you can. Doctors and emergency workers who are “on call” can put their phones and pagers on vibrate, and then quietly leave the auditorium to take the call.