Community & Education
Family Concerts
Since 1995 the New Phil has presented family programming. Growing from one concert a year to three, our music directors, in house narrators, and local music educators have put together a unique format for these programs. These family programs often include special collaborative performances with a local children’s chorus and Boston Ballet School students performing excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, or other student related work – specially a narrated piece or child soloist(s). Our narrators help children explore what they are hearing, intermingled with interactive participation such as clapping rhythms, marching to a brass tune, or talking about dynamics, colors, instruments, etc. These concerts give children an opportunity to hear live music in a way that is accessible and fun. Our Family Concerts are always followed by our Instrument Petting Zoo where children of all ages are able to meet and try the instruments of the orchestra.
New Phil and Boston Ballet School (Newton) have collaborated with a performance of Let There Be Peace on Earth for many years during our annual Celebrations concert. Here is the 2022 performance!
Instrument Petting Zoo
Have you ever wanted to toot a flute? Slide a trombone? Bang on a drum?
The New Phil’s Instrument Petting Zoo is your chance! Children of all ages (that includes you too, grown-ups!), are invited to meet and try the instruments of the orchestra. New Phil musicians guide you on how to hold the instrument and how to make a sound. The Instrument Petting Zoo is a fabulous introduction to all the instrument families! Instrument Petting Zoos accompany each Family Discovery Concert. After watching New Phil musicians and the young guest artists play, your child will be inspired to try the instruments on their own! Discover a budding musician!
Outreach History
New Philharmonia’s mission and vision — “Music for All” — has inspired extensive work bringing live musical experiences introducing music and the orchestra to thousands of listeners across the Boston area. In additional to the many family concerts presented annually since 1995 the orchestra was a weekly partner in the life of the Oliver Hazard Perry School in South Boston and other Boston Public Schools for nearly 20 years – as sponsored by John Hancock Financial Services. This unique program brought performances and weekly general music and string instrument instruction into the lives of children in the BPS system who otherwise would never have such an opportunity.
