Symphony Fall Festival Concert Information

Dear Symphony, 

The first two months of GTCYS’ 2025–26 season have flown by!  Everyone on staff has enjoyed helping students develop musically, create new friendships, and grow as a community.  

We’re so excited to hear your musical progress at the Fall Festival concerts at Orchestra Hall on Saturday, November 15 at 10:30am and 3:00pm and Sunday, November 16, at 2:00pm. Find ticketing information here. 

Please carefully read instructions below on arrival, concert dress, and what to bring: 

SYMPHONY CONCERT WEEKEND INFO  

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 
Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 
SYMPHONY TIMELINE 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 

  • 9:40am: Arrive by this time and check in at the Stage Door. Follow signs to the Locker Rooms to unpack. Do not arrive prior to 9:25am. 
  • 10:05 – 10:40am: Rehearsal in the Target Atrium: Bring instrument, STAND, and music only. Leave cases in locker rooms.   
  • 10:30am: Concert 1 begins: This performance will end at approximately 12:00pm. After the concert concludes, students may depart in groups of 3 or more for lunch.   
  • 2:30pm: Return to Orchestra Hall by this time.   
  • 2:45 – 3:10pm: Warm up in the Target Atrium: Bring instrument, STAND, and music only. Leave cases in locker rooms.   
  • 3:00pm: Concert 2 begins: This performance will end at approximately 4:30pm.  
  • NEW: Immediately following the performance, Symphony will remain on stage for a formal group photo for tour promotion. The photo session is expected to last approximately 15 minutes. 

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 

  • 1:30pm: Arrive by this time and check in at the Stage Door. Follow signs to the Locker Rooms to unpack.  Do not arrive any earlier than 1:15pm 
  • 1:40 – 2:05pm: Rehearsal in the Target Atrium: Bring instrument, STAND, and music only. Leave cases in locker rooms.   
  • 2:00pm: Concert 3 begins: This performance will end at approximately 3:30pm.  

Attendance at the Fall Festival is mandatory for all GTCYS musicians. If you cannot attend due to illness or another emergency, complete an absence form.  

Students should come dressed in formal concert attire (New this year: all orchestras wear all black), as outlined in the Handbook. Do not wear any aerosol-based perfumes or colognes. Failure to follow the dress code may jeopardize students’ participation in the concert. 

Proof of entry: Please note that Orchestra Hall requires proof of entry upon arrival. GTCYS families will need to show Orchestra Hall staff your ticket or this message to enter the building.  

SYMPHONY DIRECTIONS 

  • Students in Symphony must enter and exit Orchestra Hall through the Stage Door on Marquette Ave., just like they do for Monday night rehearsals. Upon arrival, please go to the locker Rooms instead of going downstairs.  
  • Parents/guardians (except volunteers) are not allowed backstage and may not sit in the Hall during the dress rehearsals. 
  • The lobby will be open for parents who want to wait. 
  • After the concert, all students must go back to their warm-up rooms to retrieve their instruments before exiting.  
  • Students must enter and exit Orchestra Hall through the same doors.  
  • Please determine in advance where you will meet your family after the concert.  

WHAT TO BRING AND WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME   

DO Bring: 

  • Symphony students will need a music stand
  • Bring music folders and all music. Even if you normally read from your stand partner’s music, remember to bring your OWN music to the dress rehearsal and the concert. 
  • Bring instruments and accessories (rock stops, extra strings, reeds, etc.).  
  • Percussionists: bring your own mallets. GTCYS provides bells and a snare at Festival concerts.  
  • Cellists and Bassists: You MUST bring rock stops  
  • Water bottle. 
  • Lunch and/or individually packaged nut-free snacks as desired: Bring a bagged lunch if you would like to eat at the hall, or money to buy lunch nearby if you are planning to leave for lunch. GTCYS is not providing lunch or snacks at the Fall Festival. 
  • Be sure all personal belongings are marked with students’ first and last name.  

DO NOT Bring: 

  • Do not bring valuable personal items which could get lost.  
  • Absolutely no cell phones on stage. Please keep your phones in your cases in your warm-up area and do not bring them into the audience while listening to the other orchestras perform. Parent chaperones and GTCYS staff will confiscate student cell phones if they observe students using them during the concert. 

LIVESTREAM DETAILS  

Thanks to donor support, all three concerts will be livestreamed for free on GTCYS’ YouTube channel!   

The livestream will be posted on our YouTube channel after Fall Festival, though some pieces may be omitted due to copyright restrictions. Out of respect to your fellow audience members, please do not record the concert on your own device.   

INSTRUMENT & CLOTHING DRIVE  

Donate your gently used string instruments and concert clothes to Harmony, GTCYS’ barrier-free string instruction program serving over 100 students at two St. Paul schools!  
We are now accepting:     

  • 1/4 size cellos and violins  
  • Full size violins – suitable for intermediate to advanced players  
  • Rosin and strings for all size violins and cellos  
  • Black long-sleeved shirts in boys’ and girls’ sizes 6/8–14/16  
  • Black pants in boys’ and girls’ sizes 6/8–14/16  

    • You can drop off instruments or clothing in Orchestra Hall’s lobby before each Fall Festival concert at the donation table. If donating clothing, please press and fold clothes in advance. Thank you!  

    We can’t wait to make music with you at the Fall Festival! 

    UP NEXT 

    Reminder: NO Symphony rehearsal next Monday, November 17. Enjoy a much-deserved evening of rest! 

     

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