By Kelli Belich, SPCO

From July 9-20, the SPCO will take online registrations for a random drawing to distribute free tickets to all of the orchestra’s popular concerts for children. This is the fifth year the SPCO has been able to make its children’s concerts free, thanks to generous support from Target. The SPCO anticipates it will take nearly 30,000 registrations, based on the response from past registration periods. The July drawing will be for children’s concerts taking place September through November 2012. A second drawing will take place at a later date for the spring 2013 concerts.

A Start the Music! concertgoer enjoying a hands-on music activity, photo by Sarah Rubinstein

The SPCO offers three distinct programs for little listeners and their families. Start the Music! (for ages 3-6), xplorchestra! (6-12), and Family Concerts at the Ordway (6-12). This fall, Start the Music! will explore the woodwind family with crafts, games, and a 30-minute concert where wiggling and dancing are A-OK. In xplorchestra!, girl explorer Sydney Forte will take families on a 60-minute journey through music history (where she stops, nobody knows!). The fall Family Concert will focus on the bravery of Beethoven and his 7^th symphony.

For more information about the drawing, visit http://www.thespco.org/concerts-tickets/target-free-family-music. Dates and times for the fall 2012 concerts are listed below.

• xplorchestra! Musical Time Travel: Saturday, September 15, 9:30am; Saturday, September 15, 11am; SPCO Center, Saint Paul
• Family Concert: Beethoven the Brave: Saturday, October 6, 9:30am; Saturday, October 6, 11am; Ordway, Saint Paul
• Start the Music! Flute and Friends: Meet the Woodwinds: Saturday, November 10; 9:30am activities, 10:15am concert; 10:30am activities, 11:15am concert; SPCO Center, Saint Paul
• Start the Music! Flute and Friends: Meet the Woodwinds: Saturday, November 17; 9:30am activities, 10:15am concert; 10:30am activities, 11:15am concert; SPCO Center, Saint Paul