Are rehearsals open to the public?

A select number of rehearsals are open to the public during the season. Please call the office at 972-473-7262 for further information.

Late arrivals to concerts will be seated at the first appropriate seating break in consideration of the performers and other patrons. Ushers are always at hand to assist you.

Most audience members attend concerts in business casual attire. Wear what makes you comfortable.

When should I applaud?

You should applaud whenever you are moved to do so. Musicians love your support.

Should I bring my children?

Our Family Symphony Sundays are concerts created specifically for children 3 to 10, and we strongly encourage you to attend them with your child. For all other concerts, please consider your child’s ability to enjoy a concert with other audience members.

Salvation Army After School Program

About Salvation Army After School Program

The Plano Symphony Orchestra partners with the Salvation Army and Boys and Girls Club after school program to provide music lessons and activities during the school year for PISD students in East Plano. Students participate in weekly drum circles, group piano lessons and/or recorder lessons in both the fall and spring semester. All their hard work culminates in a performance for the parents at the end of each semester.

Instructors

Sarah RiordanRecorder

Sarah Riordan has been teaching K-5 music in Plano ISD since 2008. She is certified in the Kodály method and using that philosophy to instill the love of music in her students each and every day. She is honored to be teaching recorder classes to the children at the Boys & Girls Club. Learning the recorder is a great precursor to learning an instrument when they go into middle school. Music is an essential part of the human experience and Ms. Riordan feels blessed to share it with the children she teaches!

Kim HoldenPiano

Kim has been teaching and sharing music through piano for 30 years! She enjoyed working in the public elementary school music field for 7 years, and is currently playing with the Nobles of Note band! Kim has been teaching group piano for the Plano Symphony Orchestra’s Salvation Army after school program since it’s inception.

Samantha LowryDrum Circle

Samantha Lowry is a recent graduate from West Texas A & M University with her Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. Throughout her educational career, she has worked with a wide variety of clientele and discovered that serving school-aged children is her preferred and strongest area of practice. Samantha completed her internship spring of 2015 at Hurst-Euless-Bedford I.S.D. near Fort Worth. Her experience at Hurst-Euless-Bedford I.S.D reinforced her calling to work with the school-aged population. She enjoys using familiar songs and writing new materials to target specific goals as well as engaging her clients in improvisational music making. Her love of music and desire to help others is what brought her to Sound Starts Music!

Advanced Class

Select students participate in an advanced class of piano and recorder. These students have progressed in the program and are ready to study the instruments more in depth. They perform at the Eisemann Center in the spring with the Chamberlain Performing Arts outreach recital as special guests. For most of them this is their first experience playing for 300 people!