Programs for Schools & Teachers

The ideal way to expose students in grades 3-5 to the exciting art form of orchestral music and the traditions of the concert hall.

Jane H. Kesson School Concerts

Named in honor of Jane H. Kesson (1926-2017), a generous Philadelphia Orchestra patron and music educator of over 45 years, the J.H.K. School Concerts program equips classroom teachers and students with curriculum guides and resources to prepare them for interactive in-person Philadelphia Orchestra concert experiences in Marian Anderson Hall of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Students leave with fundamental musical vocabulary and an appreciation for orchestral music.

This program is generously funded by the Billy Joel Fund for Music Education. Established in 2008, with an extraordinary donation from legendary singer-songwriter Billy Joel, the Billy Joel Fund for Music Education is earmarked to support and augment music education in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). The Fund subsidizes tickets and transportation, allowing School District of Philadelphia schools (public and charter) to receive up to 80 tickets and bus transportation (up to 2 buses) to attend a J.H.K. School Concert each year.  Eligibility for the sponsored tickets and busing is limited to elementary schools within the School District of Philadelphia only.

We invite and encourage all regional schools to attend as well!

Tickets for non-SDP schools are $8 per person, with no immediate cost, and registrants will be invoiced prior to the performance date. 

For any questions, send us an email.

Performance Dates

All performances are 45 minutes long and take place in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. 

• April 15, 2026 at 10:30 AM
• April 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM
• April 16, 2026 at 10:30 AM
• April 16, 2026 at 12:15 PM
• May 5, 2026 at 10:30 AM

Program 

Title Nature’s Harmony 
Host TBD 
Conductor Naomi Woo

Repertoire (subject to change)  

Grieg “Morning-Mood,” from Peer Gynt 
Smetana “The Moldau,” from Má vlast  
Beethoven Second movement from Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”) 
Vivaldi Excerpts from “Spring” and “Winter,” from The Four Seasons 
Respighi “The Pine Trees at the Villa Borghese,” from Pines of Rome 
Rimsky-Korsakov “Flight of the Bumblebee,” from The Tale of Tsar Saltan  
Stravinsky “Infernal Dance of King Kastcheï,” from The Firebird 
Balfour Kiwetin-acahkos (North Star): Fanfare for the Peoples of the North 
Boulanger Of a Spring Morning 

Register

An introduction to Musical Theater for students in grades 4-6

Set The Stage provides 4th-6th grade students with an introduction to the magic of musical theater. Students will explore theater as a medley of different art forms, all serving to Set The Stage to tell their own stories. The program includes an optional pre-show workshop at your school, taught by our experienced Teaching Artists, where students are introduced to the world of musical theater. Through engaging acting, singing, and dancing exercises, participants will discover the essential elements of musical theater productions. Next, students will embark on a field trip to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts where they will experience the magic of live theater firsthand. This interactive, educational performance featuring local Philadelphia talent will take your students on an unforgettable journey, exploring the artistry of musical theater through acting, singing, dancing, and technology.

Performance Dates:
November 5th: 12:00PM–1:00PM
November 6th: 10:30AM–11:30AM
November 6th: 12:00PM–1:00PM
November 12th: 10:30AM–11:30AM (Please note there will be photo/video capture at this performance)
November 12th: 12:00PM–1:00PM (Please note there will be photo/video capture at this performance)
November 13th: 10:30AM–11:30AM
November 13th: 12:00PM–1:00PM

Register

Exploration of Social Change through the history and traditions of Jazz

Jazz For Freedom is an engaging educational program that celebrates Jazz as a vital branch of Black American Music, embodying the rich tapestry of our society and the ongoing work towards social justice. This unique program is designed to supplement the Philadelphia School District’s English Language Arts and Social Studies curricula, integrating the arts, culture, geography, history, and civics to provide a comprehensive learning experience. 

Serving over 5,000 students in grades 5 through 7, Jazz For Freedom not only educates but also inspires. The program’s highlight is a free student concert held at the Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center. This concert is a vibrant showcase featuring musicians, dancers, and poets who take students on a journey through Jazz history—from its birth in New Orleans to the flourishing Jazz scene in Philadelphia today. 

All Jazz For Freedom performances are currently full. To join the waitlist, please register below.
Join the Waitlist

2026 Performance Dates

• February 24: 12:00-1:00pm
• February 25: 10:30-11:30am
• February 25: 12:00-1:00pm
• March 3: 10:30-11:30am
• March 3: 12:00-1:00pm
• March 4: 10:30-11:30am
• March 4: 12:00-1:00pm

Bussing to performances is offered free to participating Title I schools. 

Behind-the-scenes access for middle and high school students to rehearsals of The Philadelphia Orchestra

Open Rehearsals for Students are a unique and exciting opportunity for students to observe firsthand the artistic collaboration between world-class musicians and conductors. Since this is a working rehearsal for the Philadelphia Orchestra, the full length of the rehearsal is 3 hours. Rehearsals begin promptly and include a 20-minute break. Groups may leave during this break, which occurs approximately 1-1.5 hours into the rehearsal. 

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Event Dates and Program Information

Pictures from an Exhibition
Thursday, January 22, 2026 10:30 AM

Elim Chan Conductor
Wu Man Pipa

Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Du Yun Ears of the Book, Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra
Musorgsky Pictures from an Exhibition

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto
Thursday, February 5, 2026 10:30 AM

Rafael Payare Conductor
David Kim Violin

Ballard Devil's Promenade
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major
Falla El amor brujo

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Thursday, February 26, 2026 10:30 AM

Xian Zhang Conductor

Britten Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell, Op. 34
Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4

Bolero and Don Juan
Thursday, April 23, 2026 10:30 AM

Marin Alsop Conductor

Haydn Symphony No. 59 ("Fire")
Puts Contact, for string trio and orchestra
Strauss Don Juan
Ravel bolero

Copland’s American Inspiration
Thursday, April 30, 2026 10:30 AM

Matthias Pintscher Conductor
Leila Josefowicz Violin

Williams Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Pintscher Assonanza
Copland Symphony No. 3

FREE | Theater & Dance 

An introduction to dance for students in grades 2-6 (Fall) and grades 7-12 (Spring)  

A presentation of The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO), these special performances provide access and inspiration to young emerging dancers and choreographers. The Fall matinee is appropriate for grades 2-6. The Spring matinee is reserved for 7th-12th grade students.  

Performance Dates

• Fall Matinee: Thursday, December 4th, 2025 at 11:00 AM
• Spring Matinee: Thursday, April 16th, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Registrants can email us for more information.  

All PHILADANCO Days performances are currently full. To join the wait list, please register below.

Join the Waitlist

Broadway Bridges Philly (Philadelphia’s branch of Broadway Bridges on the Road) is an initiative aimed at expanding access to Broadway touring performances for high school students. Building on the success of its New York City counterpart (Broadway Bridges), this program provides discounted tickets to Equity productions across our venues.

Broadway Bridges Philly offers Philadelphia area high schools $10 tickets to select performances of participating Broadway Series productions at Ensemble Arts Philly, providing a unique opportunity for local high school groups to experience the power of live theater. The program enriches arts education, fosters cultural equity, and helps build a more inclusive and diverse future audience for the performing arts.

Performances for 2025-2026 Season

• SIX: October 1st, 2025 at 7:30 PM
• Kimberly Akimbo: October 23rd, 2025 at 7:30 PM
• Back to the Future: November 18th, 2025 at 7:30 PM
• Back to the Future: November 19th, 2025 at 7:30 PM
• Suffs: January 7th, 2026 at 7:30 PM
• Disney's Beauty and the Beast: February 11th, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Broadway Bridges Philly is available to school groups only, not individual students.

The 2025-26 application is currently closed.

The Philadelphia Independence Awards honor excellence in high school musical theater across the Philadelphia region. Ensemble Arts Philly hosts the awards ceremony, in partnership with the Philadelphia Independence Awards, at the Miller Theater, where winners in lead categories advance to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards, in New York City.

Throughout the school year, students also take part in workshops at the Kimmel Center, gaining hands-on learning with industry professionals. Together with theater educators and community supporters, this partnership uplifts young talent and provides meaningful experiences that deepen their connection to the arts. Visit The Philadelphia Independence Awards to discover how to participate.

Giving Back to Philadelphia Teachers

As a non-profit organization, Ensemble Arts Philly and The Philadelphia Orchestra celebrate and support local Philadelphia teachers all season long with free or heavily discounted tickets, both for themselves and for their students/classrooms. From free concerts by The Philadelphia Orchestra, exclusive invites to Broadway shows, and more – we are proud to invite the hard-working educational communities of our city to delight in the arts.

Free Educator Tickets

Teachers, administrators, and staff of the School District of Philadelphia can receive free or heavily discounted tickets to performances by The Philadelphia Orchestra by registering for the Free Educator Tickets program. Free Educator Tickets are valid for select concerts all season long to see the GRAMMY Award-winning Orchestra in their home at Marian Anderson Hall. Registration is easy for Philadelphia School District employees! Just register with your District e-mail address and keep an eye on your email for free ticket offers and special savings. Free Educator Tickets are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and must be redeemed online.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FREE EDUCATOR TICKETS