Looking for something different and fun to do with the kids this summer? Hit the right note with the Staten Island Philharmonic’s Summer Concert Series! Not only are the concerts enriching for the community to enjoy, almost all of them are completely free to attend all summer long!
The series kicks off this Memorial Weekend with two American Tribute concerts: Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday, May 28, and the Conference House on Sunday, May 29.
Staten Island Philharmonic: Great for Kids
Founded in 2005 by a group of Staten Island musicians, the Staten Island Philharmonic is a 40-piece orchestra that performs both classical and contemporary music. But don’t think for a second that kids will find the performances boring or stuffy—young audience members have been known to get up and dance and sing along with the music!
“These concerts are great for kids–they don’t have to sit still, and they’re welcome to wander or dance along with the music,” Carolyn Clark, executive director of the philharmonic, said. “They are also welcome to talk to our players at intermission or after the concert. We’re glad to answer any questions.”
Kids don’t have many opportunities to see and hear live music, Clark added, and even fewer opportunities to experience an unplugged ensemble with at least a dozen different kinds of instruments.
“We hope our concerts will help kids learn and grow,” she said.
Clark, who plays the French horn, is one of the founding members of the group, along with music director Alex Guzman, who died of cancer in 2021.
“We’re still looking for someone to fill his enormous shoes,” Clark said.
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Summer Performances
Here’s the schedule for the summer’s concert series. All concerts are free and outdoors unless otherwise noted:
Memorial Day Weekend: American Tribute
Saturday, May 28, 4pm Zion Lutheran Church, 505 Watchogue Rd.
Sunday, May 29, 4pm Conference House Park, 298 Satterlee St.
These concerts will have some patriotic music, light classics and music by composer John Williams, known for film scores from movies including Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park and more.
Indoor Concert: $15
Sunday, July 17, 3pm; Social Hall, Bernikow JCC, 1466 Manor Rd.
The philharmonic and the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute present the children’s classic, Peter and the Wolf.
Music from the Ukraine
Sunday, June 26, 6 pm; South Meadow Stage, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace.
A performance of Peter and the Wolf, along with more music by Prokofiev, Gliere, and other Ukrainian composers.
4th of July Weekend: American Salute
Saturday, July 2, 4pm; Zion Lutheran Church, 505 Watchogue Rd.
Sunday, July 3, 4 pm; Conference House Park, 298 Satterlee St.”Monday, July 4, 6 pm; South Meadow Stage, Snug Harbor Cultural Center
These concerts will include patriotic favorites, selections from West Side Story and The Music Man and more.
Labor Day Weekend: British Invasion
Saturday, September 3, 4pm; Zion Lutheran Church, 505 Watchogue Rd.
Sunday, September 4, 4pm; Conference House Park, 298 Satterlee St.
Music from the British Isles, from folk tunes to the Beatles, James Bond and more.
For more information about the Staten Island Philharmonic, visit siphilharmonic.org or follow the organization on Facebook or Instagram.
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