For Students

Have you been to a concert or rehearsal with your family or school? Have you had a musician visit your classroom? If so, we hope it made you eager to learn even more about classical music and live performance – or what you can do with it. Here are some activities for you to learn even more.

Perhaps you are a musician yourself or are simply inspired to see more live music? We welcome you to explore some of these opportunities.

Scholarships & Competitions

• Young Composers Festival
  The winner of the 2^nd annual Young Composers Festival (students in grades K-12 are eligible) will have his or her piece performed by the Portland Symphony Orchestra during the PSO’s spring Youth Concert. Presented through a partnership with the Maine Music Educators Association, the student compositions may be in any style and genre. Each student who submits a composition will receive a Certificate of Participation and written feedback on his or her piece from a professional composer. Composers of selected pieces will also participate in the MMEA Young Composers Workshop – a master class with professional composers. Download the Young Composers Festival application and guidelines here or visit www.mainemmea.org for more information. (grades K-12) The winner of the 1^st annual Young Composers Festival in spring 2010 was Falmouth’s own Christopher Staknys – a student at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts.

• Concerto Scholarship
  Every other year, in partnership with USM School of Music, the Portland Symphony Orchestra offers a $500 Scholarship honorarium to one winner of the USM School of Music Concerto Competition. The winner is selected from the competition finalists and is offered a chance to perform at the PSO’s spring Youth Concert. Past winners of the Scholarship include saxophonist Jason Giacomazzo and Trumpeter Micah Maurio. The next competition is scheduled to be held during the 2011-12 season. (currently open only to students of the University of Southern Maine.)

• Sounds Like Art Painting, Poetry, & Performance Contest
  This spring, painting and poetry presentations from student artists will be featured alongside the Portland Symphony. Students are encouraged to create paintings and write poetry to the music on the program and winners will be featured at the concert.  Please note that contest entries are only accepted from schools and families who register for the Spring Youth Concert. Ready to enter the Sounds Like Art: Painting, Poetry and Performance Contest? Download the entry form here!

Open Dress Rehearsals

See the Symphony in an intimate setting as they prepare for their next concert! Students and their families are invited to attend Portland Symphony Orchestra dress rehearsals at Merrill Auditorium, where they will witness a professional orchestra and visiting guest artists hard at work on stage. (grade 5 and up)

Open Dress Rehearsals are free but space is limited. Click here to register for an Open Dress Rehearsal.

2011-2012 Open Dress Rehearsals:

Season Opening Celebration
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Join guest artist Awadagin Pratt for and moderator Carl Smith for a Q&A session following his portion of the dress rehearsal.

Barber, Bloch & Schubert’s “Great”
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 10:00 AM

Bates, Barber & Mahler
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Sibelius & Dvorak
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Romeo & Juliet
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Brahms, Poulenc & Scheherazade
Monday, March 12, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Kotzschmar Centennial Celebration
Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 10:00 AM

Artist & Composer Workshops

Student Rush “Happy Hour”

College students! Join the PSO’s email list or find us on Facebook to keep an eye out for details on special “Student Rush” ticket offers for select concerts. Deep, last-minute discounts available just for students.

Student Ticket Discounts

Students of all ages have access to the renowned artists and world-class performances of the PSO. No need to wait for Student Rush; families and students can plan in advance and get great seats at prices they can afford! Full-time students and children under 18 are eligible for subscription and single-ticket discounts up to 50% or more. Call the PortTIX box office at (207) 842-0800 for more information. (full-time students under age 18 only)