Tucson Symphony kicks off kids concerts, Up Close series

Things are hopping at Tucson Symphony Center this weekend.

The Tucson Symphony Orchestra‘s Just For Kids concert series aimed at children as young as toddlers kicks off with the Percussion Quartet’s “Captain Crunch Cooks His Lunch” with two performances on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Later Saturday and again on Sunday, Oct. 13, the TSO Up Close series opens with “Sonidos Latinoamericanos,” featuring a bakers dozen TSO strings and winds players and a pianist.

Both concerts will be in the center’s performance hall, 2175 N. Sixth Ave.

Just For Kids

“Captain Crunch” takes the young audience into the kitchen, where the quartet will use cheese graters, pepper grinders, saltshakers, water glasses and pots and pans to create music.

The Just For Kids programs are focused on discovery and storytelling to keep young listeners engaged. For many, the programs are the kids’ first exposure to classical instruments.

Performances are at 10 and 11:15 a.m., and admission is free.

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TSO Up Close

This weekend’s “Sonidos Latinoamericanos” opens the orchestra’s more intimate concert series that spotlights individual musicians.

This weekend, it’s spotlighting most of its principals, including flutist Alexander Lipay, oboist Max Adler, cellist Anne Gratz, acting associate concertmaster Emily Chao, clarinetist Dario Brignoli and horn player Nelson Yovera, playing works by Amy Beach, Piazzolla and Paquito d’Rivera.

The principals will be joined by members of their sections: Zachary Warren on flute; bassoonist Benjamin Yingst; violinists Grace Nakano and Laura Cásarez; violist Sarah Bromberg; and cellist Marybeth Brown-Plambeck.

The program opens with string quartet and flute combining on Beach’s Themes and Variations. A piano trio featuring Tucson pianist Daniel Linder performs Piazzolla’s “Oblivion” in the middle. D’Rivera’s lively set of dances “Aires Tropicales” for wind quintet rounds out the concert.

TSO Up Close is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 through tucsonsymphony.org.