Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is back with another exuberant season of their Young People’s Concert Series, where families can make precious musical memories together! Featuring three shows in different styles and subjects, you can encourage your child’s love for the arts through a diverse range of music. Whether through classical music by Beethoven, exhilarating calypso rhythms on a Caribbean adventure, or a genre-bending celebration of Indigenous culture, the dynamic storytelling keeps every family member engaged and entertained.

Not only has it been proven that music enhances our cognitive skills, creativity, and emotional development, but it’s interactive and lots of fun! Certainly, a trip to see the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a fantastic way to introduce your children to the arts. Music can be a source of joy for everyone, especially young listeners! So, the Young People’s Concert Series has created a family-friendly environment intended for young audiences, with a more relaxed atmosphere. Therefore, kids feel more comfortable and parents can also relax and enjoy the performance without having to keep them perfectly still or quiet.

Curated by Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, these concerts bring audience members of all ages together to enjoy symphonic concerts. In addition, the TSO makes classical music fun for families, with interactive pre-concert lobby activities held in the lobby of Roy Thomson Hall, including an Instrument Discovery Zone and the Musical Playground. Even better, all performances last about an hour, which is just the right amount of time to hold the attention of little ones!

TSO Young People’s Concert Series — Event Schedule

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Roy Thomson Hall: Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 11:00am (Relaxed Performance), 1:30pm & 4:00pm
The Rose Brampton: Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 2:00pm
Recommended for ages 5+

Set sail on a music adventure to the Caribbean with Captain Daniel Bartholmew-Poyser at the helm! Hot, Hot, Hot! invites young listeners and all audience members to feel the beat and dance in their seats as your TSO dives into the vibrant world of island music. Get ready for an exhilarating day of calypso rhythms and orchestra magic, featuring special guests!

Furthermore, at the pre-concert lobby activities for this performance, kids can try out instruments at the Instrument Discovery Zone and get creative at the Music Playground. Then, they can also hear inspiring performances in the North Lobby by young musicians from Sistema Toronto, at 1:00-1:20pm for the 1:30pm performance, and at 3:30-3:50pm for the 4:00pm show.

Plus, catch a special one-time performance of “Hot, Hot, Hot!” at The Rose Brampton on February 15! Tickets are available here.

Relaxed Performance
For families who prefer a more sensory-friendly experience, the Young People’s Concerts Series also offers a Relaxed Performance of “Hot, Hot, Hot!“, tailored for neurodiverse audiences and the Disability community. This flexible environment is ideal for anyone wishing for a more comfortable and inclusive setting, which is especially helpful for families with kids who have trouble sitting still.

“Beethoven Lives Upstairs”

Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 1:30pm & 4:00pm
Recommended for ages 6+

Led by TSO RBC Resident Conductor Trevor Wilson and featuring actors from Classical Kids LIVE!, “Beethoven Lives Upstairs” follows a lively exchange of letters between young Christoph and his uncle, discussing the “madman” who has moved into the upstairs apartment of Christoph’s Vienna home. Through correspondence excerpts and a selection of Beethoven’s most beautiful compositions, Christoph discovers the composer’s genius and the beauty of his music.

For this show’s pre-concert lobby activities, families can have fun at the Music Playground and try out instruments at the Instrument Discovery Zone. Then, don’t miss a lively Beethoven performance by the Rosebuds, Brampton’s Youth Orchestra. Performances take place in the North Lobby at 1:00-1:20pm for the 1:30pm performance, and at 3:30-3:50pm for the 4:00pm show.

“Adizokan”

Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 1:30pm & 4:00pm

In “Adizokan”, audiences can experience the evocative culture of Canada’s Indigenous peoples in a dynamic and genre-bending collaboration with Red Sky Performance, one of Toronto’s most esteemed theatre companies. Originally premiered by the TSO and conducted by TSO RBC Resident Conductor Trevor Wilson, “Adizokan” is performed, conceived and directed by Sandra Laronde, founder and artistic director of Red Sky Performance, along with throat boxer Nelson Tagoona. Blending electro-acoustic and orchestral music by Canadian composer Eliot Britton with vocals, dance, and video, this show is a multi-sensory journey for all ages. Furthermore, the performance explores the spiritual connections between Indigenous peoples and the natural world, as well as themes of identity and tradition.

Create lasting memories with your kids in a welcoming, family-friendly environment — Get your tickets today here!

Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Young People’s Concert Series

Date: February 15 — May 4, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM & 4:00 PM, Relaxed performances at 11:00 AM
Venue: Roy Thomson Hall
Address: 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto
February 15 performance of Hot, Hot, Hot!: The Rose Brampton, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton
Website: www.tso.ca, www.brampton.ca

Take a seat at our list of Concerts & Shows in Toronto here!