New York Philharmonic Very Young People's Concerts to Launch 11/8-9 with TREBLE AND BASS

The New York Philharmonic Very Young People's Concerts (VYPCs), for children ages 3 to 6, will begin its 11th season Sunday, November 8, 2015, at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. and Monday, November 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street.

The program, titled "Treble and Bass," is the first installment in Philharmonic Playdates, the season's theme that evokes a playground made of music. Philharmonic Associate Principal Viola Rebecca Young is the host and Marion Schoevaert is the illustrator. The "Treble and Bass" program will feature Philharmonic musicians performing J.S. Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 2 and selections from Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours" from La Gioconda, featuring Bill Gordh as the storywriter. The program will be presented again on November 14 at Jamaica Performing Arts Center, presented by Lincoln Center's Boro-Linc.

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: "Forte and Piano," will take place February 28-29, 2016, featuring selections from Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 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.)

Pictured: Very Young People's Concerts. Photo by Michael DiVito.