Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Family Concert Series, 11/24-3/23

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Family Concerts are specially designed to introduce children and their parents to the wonders of a live symphony concert. Part performance, part family outing, these hour-long affordable concerts will spark the imagination of the whole family.

Beethoven Lives Upstairs

• Sunday, November 24 • 4:00 p.m. • Michigan Theater
• sponsored by Toyota
• family-friendly, fun pre-concert activities 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Young Christoph is convinced his mother has rented out the upstairs room to a madman! That boarder is none other than Ludwig van Beethoven who is busy composing his Ninth Symphony. The boy and the cantankerously eccentric deaf composer eventually meet and Christoph begins to see the softer side of Beethoven as his music begins to win the boy over. Beethoven's memorable music is magically woven into the play that won an Emmy Award for Best Children's Program. Actors in costume bring the story to life, using funny and true stories about Beethoven, with all music performed by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

Sing-Along With Santa

• Saturday, December 7 • 4:00 p.m. Bethlehem United Church of Christ

Your A2SO has a special relationship with Santa. Each year he sleds down from the North Pole to meet the children of Ann Arbor at our Sing-Along. He loves to read aloud 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and sing all his favorite carols with the kids. To help remember the fun, a photographer will snap a photo of each youngster with Santa - sent to you in time for Christmas. Cookies and cider will make your afternoon festivities bright. Bassist Erin Zurbuchen will be accompanied by pianist Lori Zupan, in a potpourri of holiday classics.

The Planets

• Sunday, March 23 • 4:00 p.m. • Michigan Theater
• Guest Artist: Lev Mamuya, Cello - 1st Place Laureate Winner Sphinx Competition
• Special Guest Emcee: Astronaut Tony England
• family-friendly, fun pre-concert activities 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Bring your lightsabers and come in costume! Discover the universe through music such as Holst's The Planets and Hollywood's Star Wars. Rocket around the stars with Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra, best known as the theme from 2001 Space Odyssey, and Mozart'sJupiter Symphony. This concert features special photographs of space and the planets from the University of Michigan's Astronomy space projects. Astronaut Tony England will be our special guest emcee and will sign autographs after the concert. In addition to Astronaut England, an actual Apollo Space Suit, used from 1969 - 1972, will be exhibited in the Michigan Theater lobby for patrons to see and photograph. On loan from the NASA and the Johnson Space Center, this suit was used to walk on the moon. It includes the special outer gloves, boots, helmet, and life-support backpack.

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