NY Philharmonic's Very Young People's Concerts to Continue with FORTE AND PIANO

The New York Philharmonic Very Young People's Concerts (VYPCs), for children ages 3 to 6, will continue its 11th season Sunday, February 28, 2016, at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. and Monday, February 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street.

The program, titled "Forte and Piano," is the second of three installments in Philharmonic Playdates, the season's theme that evokes a playground made of music. Philharmonic Associate Principal Viola Rebecca Young is the host, Marion Schoevaert is the illustrator, and Kate Bell is the storywriter. The "Forte and Piano" program will feature Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 and a selection from Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours" from La Gioconda. The program will feature Philharmonic violinists Hae-Young Ham and Kerry McDermott, violist Re?mi Pelletier, cellist Qiang Tu, and bassoonist Arlen Fast.

The VYPCs are designed by Philharmonic musicians working with faculty from Teachers College of Columbia University to introduce young children to classical music through games, active listening, and hands-on music-making. Before each concert, musicians are stationed throughout Merkin Concert Hall to greet families and initiate musical activities on the day's theme. After each performance, children have an opportunity to try orchestral instruments themselves.

The next Very Young People's Concerts, Philharmonic Playdates: "Allegro and Adagio," will take place April 3-4, 2016, featuring selections from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours" from La Gioconda.

Single tickets start at $24. Tickets may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875- 5656, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased at the David Geffen Hall Box Office. The Box Office opens at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at noon on Sunday. On performance evenings, the Box Office closes one-half hour after performance time; other evenings it closes at 6:00 p.m. To determine ticket availability, call the Philharmonic's Customer Relations Department at (212) 875-5656. (Ticket prices subject to change.)

Photo by Michael DiVito