"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.

OCTOBER 10, 2010 | OCTOBER FEST-IVAL

Festival City Symphony begins its Symphony Sundays concerts with an “October Fest-ival” of music by Mozart and Beethoven. Mozart’s solemn Overture to The Magic Flute starts the program, followed by his delightful Piano Concert No. 23, featuring Milwaukee pianist Jeannie Yu.  Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony No. 1, described at its premiere as “barbaric” and “outrageous,” concludes the concert.

JANUARY 30, 2011 | OUTLOOKS ON LOVE

Three musical “Outlooks On Love” comprise our second concert.  First, we attend the bucolic Rustic Wedding Symphony of Karl Goldmark.  Sit on either side.  Otto Nicolai’s Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor shows Falstaff’s clumsy attempts at seduction.  We close with Camille Saint-Saens’ bombastic Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah, a favorite orchestral tour de force.

MARCH 13, 2011 | AMERICAN TALES

Storytelling is an ancient artistic form and our program will tell three “American Tales”. Virgil Thomson’s Louisiana Story is a concert suite of his score to Robert Flaherty’s film of the same name.  Douglas Moore’s Pageant of P.T. Barnum describes the life of one of America’s great showmen and the exhibitions he presented.  The narrator in Nathaniel Stookey’s The Composer Is Dead solves an orchestral mystery by interviewing the individual instruments in the orchestra.  All you need is a pillow and cocoa!

APRIL 17, 2011 | SEASON FINALE

Festival City Symphony closes its season with a concert featuring the music of Felix Mendelssohn, Bruch, and Beethoven. The program begins with Beethoven’s heroic Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus. Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond will perform as soloist in Max Bruch’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. The orchestra will also perform Felix Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony, ingratiating and profound yet brilliant and a fitting “Season Finale”.

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 15, 2010 | MUSIC MARCHES ON

Start the season and meet the orchestra with a concert of different types of marches.  Included are marches by Verdi, Elgar, Strauss, and (of course) Sousa.  And everyone will get a chance to conduct!

DECEMBER 8, 2010 | HOLIDAY PAJAMA JAMBOREE

Join us for a concert of holiday favorites including the Overture to Hansel and Gretel, Mozart’s Sleigh Ride, Frosty the Snowman, and a sing-along of well-known carols. Those who wish may bring a non-perishable food donation for Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee.

MAY 11, 2011 | LET'S MEET THE COMPOSER

All composers are not dead!  Meet Milwaukee composer/performer Sigmund Snopek III and see how musical ideas are formed, expanded, and become the pieces you will hear us play.

Programming subject to change.