This series of three FREE classical "pops" concerts, each one hour in length, is geared to children and their families. Each concert has narration and music selections that are lively, tell a story, and/or demonstrate the colors of the orchestra. Dress is casual. Pajamas, teddy bears, and blankets are welcome for the youngest audience members, especially for a spot on the floor directly in front of the orchestra. Conventional seating is also available.
The programs are frequently collaborative efforts with guest artists appealing to youngsters (dancers, costumed actors, children's performing groups, etc.) Sometimes audience members even get to conduct!
Pajama Jamborees are held selected Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. at Vogel Hall or the Bradley Pavilion of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 123 E. State Street entrance.
September 26, 2007 Let's Meet the Percussion Section "Bing, bang, boom!" - In Vogel Hall
Discover the instruments behind all those interesting zips, snaps, and zings in the music you hear. The concert will feature classical pops including Don Gillis’ January February March, FCS percussionist Ed Doemland’s Scherzo for Percussion, and excerpts from Alan Menken’s Beauty and the Beast. Join us for an evening of fun!
October 31, 2007 Halloween Pajama Jamboree "Ah, Gooood evening!" - In Bradley Pavilion
Dressed in costume, Festival City Symphony invites you to do the same and join us for a 'frightful' night of 'haunting' music to celebrate all hallows eve featuring Mussorgsky's Night On Bald Mountain, Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre, Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King, and Webber's Phantom of the Opera.
November 28, 2007 Holiday Pajama Jamboree with Milwaukee Children's Choir " 'Tis the Season!" - In Bradley Pavilion
Join us for an evening sing-along with holiday tunes by Festival City Symphony and a performance by our special guests, Milwaukee Children's Choir's Concert Choir. Those who wish may bring a non-perishable food donation for Hunger Taskforce.
Programming subject to change.
"Symphony Sundays - Classical Music for All Ages" is a concert series that makes classical music accessible to everyone including single adults, couples, seniors, music students, families, and children. Symphony Sundays are informal events that welcome newcomers and established symphony enthusiasts alike. The historic Pabst Theater offers relaxed, yet elegant surroundings for these afternoons at the symphony.
Concertgoers will be inspired by the musical masterpieces of renowned composers presented by the professional musicians of Festival City Symphony. Conductor Monte Perkins will offer descriptive program information from the podium.
Concert ticket prices are kept low because of the generosity of our sponsors!
Children's Program Notes - Children who arrive 15 minutes early are invited to participate in Children’s Program Notes, a pre-concert group activity and orientation, presented by Music Educator Jayne Perkins, which introduces the music they are about to hear to increase their understanding and enjoyment.
Children's Program Notes begins at 2:45 p.m.
"Symphony Sundays" are held Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St., Milwaukee.
The 2007-08 Festival City Symphony season concerts will feature four classical concerts mixing traditional symphonic selections with pieces made well known by their performance on stage and screen. Join us for these exciting Symphony Sundays at the Pabst Theater!
January 20 "Go West, Young Man"
Saddle up, it's time to join Festival City Symphony as we begin the Symphony Sundays season with an Americana-themed concert featuring works from four favorite American venues: from the concert hall, Ferde Grofe's popular Grand Canyon Suite; from the ballet, Aaron Copland's Four Dances from Rodeo; from Broadway, Richard Rodgers Selections from Oklahoma; and from classical pops, Richard Hayman's Pops Hoedown.
February 10 "Back To Nature"
Nothing has inspired composers more than nature and Festival City Symphony is proud to present three outstanding tributes to the world around us with this enchanting program featuring Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 (Pastorale), well-known for its performance in Walt Disney's Fantasia; Jan Sibelius' The Swan of Tuonela, with English horn soloist Suzanne Geoffrey; and Edvard Grieg's romantic Peer Gynt Suite No. 1.
March 9 "Don't Go Russian Off"
 Festival City Symphony takes you to Russia and back with this inspiring program featuring Michael Kim performing Sergei Rachmaninoff's infamous Piano Concerto No. 3. Often called the most demanding work in piano literature, this piece was featured in the motion picture Shine starring Geoffrey Rush. The symphony will also perform Mikhail Glinka's energetic Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla from the enchanting Russian version of the fairytale favorite, Sleeping Beauty, and Reinhold Gliere's Russian Sailor's Dance  from his opera The Red Poppy, which takes place during the Russian Revolution in 1917. The concert will close with a special request by last season's audience, Tchaikovsky's March Slav.
April 27 "Hola, ¿Como Estas?" 
The season ends with a salute to Hispanic countryside, culture, and community. Soloist Nathan Wysock performs the most beloved work of the guitar repertoire, Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. Inspired and written for the gardens at Palacio Real de Aranjuez in Spain, this piece is a melodic journey transporting listeners to another place and time. The concert will also feature Emmanuel Chabrier's rhythmic yet energetic Espana Rhapsody and Aaron Copland's El Salon Mexico,  a symphonic composition in one movement based on Mexican folk music and later arranged for the 1947 academy award winning musical Fiesta. Morton Gould's lively and entertaining Latin American Symphonette closes the season by Festival City Symphony. Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil of the United Community Center will perform as special guests during Children’s Program Notes at this concert.
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