Alabama Symphony Orchestra

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is committed to enriching students’ lives across the state through engaging performances in schools, concert halls, and public venues. From educational programs to classic masterworks concerts, ASO introduces students to the magic of live symphony orchestra, often for the first time, creating unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impression. With our education concerts, the ASO also publishes a teaching guide that includes resources and lesson plans for classrooms and homeschool students that directly relate our concert to the Alabama State Standards.

Enjoy upcoming concerts with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. We have several opportunities for all students! Tickets for all ASO educational programs can be reserved on the ASO website’s Field Trips page.

On October 7, 2026, at 9:30 and 11:00 AM, Maestro Chris Confessore invites students from Pre-K through 2nd grade at Thompson High School Performing Arts Center to see why The Symphony Is All Around You! In this vibrant adventure, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra encourages young explorers to discover the sights and sounds of music everywhere around them through the power of the symphony orchestra. Designed for students in PreK through 2nd grade, this interactive program introduces the orchestra’s instrument families while celebrating the joy of music in everyday life. Come along for an unforgettable treat!

Bring your students or your whole family for a morning of music, discovery, and wonder! On February 11, 2027, at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM at the Hoover Performing Arts Center, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra invites young listeners in grades 3 through 6 to Make Our Garden Grow — The World of Music, a concert that connects the building blocks of music with the science of the natural world. Just as sunshine, water, and soil work together to make a garden thrive, melody, harmony, and rhythm combine to make music come alive. Led by Maestro Daniel Cho, students will meet the instruments of the orchestra up close, explore the traditions of classical music, and hear how great composers like Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bernstein — along with some beloved film favorites — use music to tell powerful stories. It’s a perfect field trip or family outing that brings classroom learning to the concert hall in the most exciting way possible. Come grow something together!

The adventure continues! From March 2–6, 2027, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra joins forces with Birmingham Children’s Theatre to bring E. B. White’s beloved story The Trumpet of the Swan to life on stage. Conducted by Maestro Daniel Cho, this charming coming-of-age tale follows Louis, a voiceless swan with a big heart and an even bigger determination to find his place in the world. From growing up and making friends to falling in love and starting a family, Louis takes flight through life’s milestones — discovering along the way that what once set him apart becomes his greatest strength. It’s a perfect field trip for students in grades 3–6 that brings great literature and live orchestral music together in one unforgettable experience. Reservations are made through Birmingham Children’s Theatre.

Want to experience a true symphonic experience in the concert hall? Our abbreviated masterworks concerts are great for all ages! From Pre-K to high school, these concerts expose students to timeless classics in a length that is perfect for a younger audience. Join us on October 2, 2026, November 6, 2026, January 29, 2027, February 19, 2027, April 9, 2027, and May 7, 2027, at 11:00 AM at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center. Don’t miss these unforgettable musical experiences! Tickets for all ASO educational programs can be reserved on the ASO website’s Field Trips page. Tickets for all ASO educational programs can be reserved on the Field Trips page of the ASO website.

Ready to take your playing to the next level? Sign up for the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO). Directed by Maestro Daniel Cho, the ASYO is an ensemble dedicated to nurturing talent, building community, and empowering young lives in the state of Alabama. The group consists of 68 of the brightest young musicians from throughout the state of Alabama. Interested? Learn more here.

To learn more, visit alabamasymphony.org/education/field-trips-26-27.

Watch the video below to learn more about Alabama Symphony Orchestra Education Programs.