The Young People’s Concerts series serves nearly 40,000 students every year. Geared toward pre-kindergarten to 8^th grade, these school day concerts are simultaneously educational and entertaining. Each program has strong curriculum connections and is supported by extensive advance (and award-winning!) class room preparatory materials. The series is divided into three concerts to better instruct and entertain various ages.

Symphony Street has been developed for the preK to 2^nd grade students to introduce the instruments of the orchestra and a few music fundamentals. With the emphasis on ‘fun” this concert is performed by a chamber-sized orchestra from the ASO and is hosted by various community venues to provide less travel time for our youngest audience members. No piece of music is more than 3 minutes in length and there are strong visual and audience participation activities throughout the concert. Conductor Jere Flint and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are joined by dancers from Lee Harper & Dancers and co-host actress/vocalist Wendy Bennett. Educators receive a CD with samples of music from the upcoming concert as well as a student activity booklet and various teacher resource materials correlated to the GA Quality Core Curriculum and the Georgia Performance Standards.

Discover & Next Generation Concerts contain the same programming with some adjustments made to the stage presentation for the remaining age groups. Discover Concerts are primarily for the 3^rd – 5^th grades while Next Generation Concerts serve the 6^th – 8^th grade levels. All of the repertoire and teaching materials are identical. This is a ‘suggested’ division of concert audience. 3^rd to 5^th grade groups are welcome to attend a Next Generation Concert if the time and date work better for that group and the same applies to Discover Concerts for the 6^th-8^th grade groups.

Programs focus on the elements of music and integrating the arts into the curriculum. Concerts are performed by full orchestra and led by ASO Assistant Conductor Mei-Ann Chen. Guest artists and concert activities vary depending on the season. Educators receive a teaching DVD, a CD with samples of the music, a Teacher’s Guide correlated to the Georgia Quality Core Curriculum and the Georgia Performance Standards.