South Dakota Symphony Orchestra to Host Family Concert, 3/29

On Sunday, March 29th, the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) welcomes families for a special afternoon performance of Holst's The Planets. The Family Concert is free for children ($10 for adults) and will provide families with the opportunity to travel through our solar system with musical depictions of Earth's neighboring planets accompanied by NASA video. This is the first year the SDSO will be performing a concert designed for families since 2008.

The SDSO is returning family programming in an initiative to enrich the community with more high-quality, educational opportunities. David Gier, Music Director of the SDSO, said the organization has been considering ways to reach new audiences and serve the community better. "This is a full-immersion musical experience--Holst's music perfectly evokes the character of each planet and have been used by film composers for decades as inspiration--a perfect introduction to the orchestra for people of all ages," said Gier. "Honestly, with Holst's music and the NASA video, I can't imagine a concert with a better line-up for a first-time concertgoer."

Composer Gustav Holst composed The Planets in 1910 to capture the character of each of the planets in our solar system. Only seven movements were composed as he did not do one for Earth and Pluto had not yet been discovered. Adrian Wyard, a Seattle-based visual artist and former designer and program manager at Microsoft, provides the visual accompaniment of our solar system to Holst's original composition.

Before and after the performance, children can participate in an instrument petting zoo. Children are encouraged to try the instruments available, including the flute, violin, trumpet, and more.

The SDSO will be performing the Family Concert of Holst's The Planets Sunday, March 29th at 2:30 p.m. at the Washington Pavilion. Tickets are free for children, $10 for adults, and can be purchased online at sdsymphony.org or by calling the Washington Pavilion box office at (605) 367-6000.