Tired of being out in left field?
The King Center has a limited number of convenient parking spaces close to the theatre. . . But they go fast. We encourage you to reserve your parking space for the prepaid price of $8 per performance. Night of show cost is $10.  There will still be ample FREE parking available. You may contact the King Center Box Office to make reserved parking arrangements, 321-242-2219.

How to Put Culture in Your Life
...And take the fear out of a symphony experience!
One might say that music is emotion. Music can convey many emotions - triumph, defeat, love, loss, and happiness. Classical music, especially, can evoke such emotions from the listener. But, for the new classical music listener, sometimes the first emotion they feel - before the first note is heard - is fear! Fear, because they may have no classical music background, don't know what to wear or when to clap. It is time to take away the fear of a classical performance and invite you to attend or revisit a symphony concert.

You can put some culture in your life by attending a live symphony orchestra performance like the Brevard Symphony Orchestra at the King Center. Symphony concerts can be extremely exciting. The high voltage sound of a orchestra can send shivers running down your spine. But there's more to it than that, or to the flashy choreography of a showy conductor. The true excitement - the key to enjoying the symphony - is knowing the music well enough to appreciate the poetry, fire and eloquence, or lack of it, in a performance.

To assist potential symphony listeners get started, here are a few basic tips:

Before you arrive

Do your homework
Getting acquainted with the music being performed will enhance your symphonic experience.

To learn more about the pieces that will be performed at the BSO's Subscription Concerts, you can visit the Program Notes pages on this website (currently under construction for the 2008-09 season). These pages will include:

PROGRAM NOTES with musical excerpts and glossary terms - read the complete notes and enjoy snippets of the music to be performed.

VIDEO - in a short informational video, Christopher Confessore, the BSO's Music Director and Principal Conductor, shares highlights about the concert.

CONDUCTOR CD RECOMMENDATIONS - Listening to the same piece several times prior to the concert is suggested. If time permits, you might consider listening to different versions of a piece. Hearing the variations in the interpretations of different artists will be fascinating and helps increase you understanding and appreciation of a work. You may purchase the CDs, download individual recordings or visit your local library. You can purchase Christopher Confessore's CD recommentations from the music department in Barnes & Noble - Melbourne.

GUEST ARTIST information - View a photo of the guest artist(s) and visit their web sites to read their biographies, listen to musical samples and more.

Want to learn more about classical music in general? Check out Classical Music for Dummies. Another good option is to invite a musically knowledgeable friend to a concert. Or check out some of these websites:

Music Resources on the Internet
http://skdesigns.com/internet/music/general/

Essential Classics
http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_music

Concert Night

What to wear
There is no official attire and formal dress isn't necessary. But, most symphony listeners do dress up; with men in suits, coats and ties and women in dresses or suits. T-shirts and shorts would not fit the occasion. If you wear jeans to a concert, you would not be asked to leave, but you may feel underdressed.

Arrive Early
By arriving early you can avoid the parking lot rush. Also, early arrival could provide some more education before the concert begins. Many orchestras have a pre-concert lecture about the pieces and the artists being performed that evening. Before each classical performance the BSO offers "Concert Conversations with Christopher Confessore." These lectures allow the audience additional information not found in the program notes and many conductors accept questions from the audience relating to the evening's music. Pre-concert is also the time used to read the program notes and prepare for your musical experience.

Check out the stage
Most orchestra stages are set in a fan-shaped arrangement, strings in successive rows - first and second violins to the left, followed by violas, cellos and double basses, usually to the right. The strings are always upfront, backed deeper in the orchestra by woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, oboes, English horn, bassoons and contra-bassoon) and brasses (French horns, trumpets, trombones and tuba), with the various percussion (timpani, side drum, bass drum, cymbals, etc.) toward the rear.

Tuning up
Once the orchestra is seated, the last player to walk onto the stage is the first violinist, or "concertmaster", who bows to applause, then asks the principal oboist to sound an "A", to which the orchestra tunes. After the orchestra has tuned, the conductor will proceed onstage. Remember, once the concert begins, the audience should remain as quiet as possible. Rustling of gourmet nut wrappers or whispers to your neighbor can be distracting to the rest of the audience and the musicians.

Encore, Encore - when to applaud
For new symphony listeners one of the biggest worries is when to applaud. Before the concert begins, refer to your program. If a concerto or symphony has more than three or four movements (Allegro, Andante, Adagio, Vivace), don't applaud after each movement; wait until the entire concerto or symphony is over. If in doubt wait - watch the conductor. He or she will lower their hands when the piece is complete. If you were thrilled with the performance and the conductor has turned to acknowledge the applause, at this time you may cheer or yell "Encore, Encore"!

Late Seating
It is the King Center policy to begin performances at the advertised time. Patrons arriving late will be seated when it is least disruptive to the performers and the audience. Late arrivals can watch the performance on closed circuit television sets in the lobby and halls while waiting to be seated.

Enhance Your Concert Experience
Plan to arrive early because you’re invited to attend “Concert Conversations with Christopher Confessore.” At approximately 7:15 p.m., prior to each classical performance, Maestro Confessore will provide an informal, ten to fifteen minute talk about the evening’s program. Main floor seating is open to anyone during the pre-concert chat.

We are pleased to suggest the following restaurants and caterers who continue to support the Brevard Symphony Orchestra each year at our Annual Space Coast Wine & Beer Festival. We ask that you consider patronizing their establishment before or after our next performance or hiring their services for your next special event.

Single Tickets are currently on sale through the King Center Box Office. They may be purchased in person or by telephone at 321-242-2219. Single tickets may also be available at the concert hall one hour prior to the concert.

Melbourne / Palm Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
www.melpb-chamber.org

Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
www.cocoabeachchamber.com

Titusville Chamber of Commerce
www.titusville.org

Brevard Cultural Alliance CalendArts
www.artsbrevard.org

Courtyard Marriott - Cocoa Beach
The official hotel of the BSO
www.courtyardcocoabeach.com