Young People’s Concerts

Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra’s Young People’s Concerts are a long-standing tradition designed for elementary school students across Kern County.

These engaging, interactive performances introduce students to the orchestra and its instruments while sparking curiosity and building a lasting connection to music. Lesson plans are provided to support classroom learning before and after the concert.

2027 PROGRAM - The Conductor’s Spellbook

Back by popular demand, join the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra for The Conductor’s Spellbook, a 45-minute interactive concert that introduces students to the orchestra through storytelling, sound, and imagination.

In this narrated program, young Tony Stradivarius discovers a mysterious spellbook during a field trip to the symphony—and suddenly finds himself in control of the orchestra. As Tony experiments with magical “conducting spells,” students explore how instruments make sound, how music is organized, and what it really means to lead an orchestra.

Through humor, surprises, and interactive moments, students don’t just listen—they participate, respond, and experience the music as it unfolds.

STUDENTS WILL
♩ Discover how sound is created through vibration and how instruments produce their unique voices
♩ Explore the four instrument families—strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion—and how they work together
♩ Learn how a conductor communicates tempo, dynamics, and musical expression
♩ Participate in guided conducting patterns and musical responses from their seats
♩ Experience playful “musical spells” that highlight each instrument’s special qualities
♩ Hear how music combines creativity and science as “organized sound”
♩ Engage with moments of humor, surprise, and dramatic storytelling throughout the performance

PERFORMANCES
 ♩Thursday, January 28, 2027 | 9:45 & 11:00 a.m.
 ♩Friday, January 29, 2027 | 9:45 & 11:00 a.m.

LOCATION
♩ Dignity Health Theater - 1001 Truxtun Avenue - Bakersfield, CA 93301

GRADE
♩ Recommended: 1st–6th Grade
♩ All ages of exceptional learners are welcome
♩ Deaf and hard-of-hearing students are encouraged to attend; program scripts are available upon request for interpreter preparation

COST
 ♩$8 per person, chaperone’s welcome
 ♩Ask your school about available funding

LEARNING MATERIALS
 ♩All registered groups will receive learning materials designed to support classroom preparation and extend the concert experience