Every season, we perform free concerts throughout the community, from libraries to retirement facilities. Check back often to find a Symphony performance near you.
Musical Storybooks and Leta G. Snow Instrument Petting Zoos are wonderful ways to introduce children to instruments and live music. We hope you'll join us at one of our free Summer performances across Southwest Michigan!
CANCELED - Wild Wednesdays at Binder Park Zoo!
This event has been canceled due to weather. Stay tuned for updates!
July 10, 2024 | 5 - 7:30 p.m.
Oboes and flutes and horns, oh my!
The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra brings a Woodwind Quintet to the Binder Park Zoo for an evening of music, storytelling, and howling good fun. Alongside a soundtrack for your summer safari, you can hear Peter and the Wolf, a story where musical instruments play the characters! Bring your friends or the whole family for a roaring good time.
5:00-6:15 pm Woodwind Quintet plays a variety of music
6:30-7:00 pm Peter and the Wolf
7:00-7:30 pm Finish your night with a little more music
The story of a girl who heard a Symphony Orchestra and was inspired to become a composer.
What does it take to become a composer? Lots of hard work, scores of behind- the-scenes people, and a little bit (or maybe a lot of luck). Music from traditional composers like Beethoven along with contemporary female composers Florence Price and Grace Bacewicz follows the journey of our heroine as she discovers her love for music and develops into a master musician, composer, and conductor.
Musical Storybook: Where The Wild Things Are - Three Rivers Library
October 10, 2023 | 6 p.m. | Free Admission
Connect with the community and celebrate reading and music in a way that includes everyone from baby bugs to those who need a break from adulting. We tell a story through music, with a small ensemble performance and audience interaction.
Admission is free.
88 N. Main St., Three Rivers, MI 49093
Musical Storybooks are sponsored by
Free Community Concert: First Presbyterian Church
October 10, 2023 | 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Join us for a free community concert at the Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church with KSO musicians!
Program:
Thea Musgrave | Cantilena
Louis Spohr | Fantasia and Variations on a Theme of Danzi, Op. 81
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11
321 W South St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum
October 13, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. Crafts & 11 a.m. Storybook | Included with cost of Air Zoo admission
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder.
Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Kalamazoo Public Library Oshtemo Branch
October 26, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. | Admission is free, but registration is required
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder. Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch
October 23, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. | Admission is free, but registration is required
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder.
Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Kalamazoo Public Library Alma Powell Branch
October 27, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. | Admission is free, but registration is required
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder. Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Kalamazoo Public Library Eastwood Branch
November 2, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. | Admission is free, but registration is required
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder.
Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Kalamazoo Public Library Washington Square Branch
November 3, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. | Admission is free, but registration is required
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder.
Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Kalamazoo Public Library Washington Square Branch
November 3, 2023 | 10:30 a.m. | Admission is free, but registration is required
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder.
Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
Kalamazoo Kids in Tune Winter Performance - Milwood Magnet School
December 18, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
This year at the KKIT Winter Showcase we will feature the work of all five (5) of our KKIT large ensembles and a handful of our small ensembles. The evening will begin with our elementary ensembles: the KKIT Prelude Orchestra and the Elementary Symphony Orchestra. The concert's second half will feature the Jazz Band and the Middle/High School Symphony ensemble. This year, the KKIT students will be performing musical works spanning the globe in a celebration of different Spanish-speaking cultures. Audience goers will hear tunes from Cuban dance music to the music of Georges Bizet in the Carmen Suite.
This event is free and tickets are not required.
2916 Konkle St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Musical Storybook: Hello Star - Allegan District Library
January 4, 2024 | 1 p.m. | Admission is free, but registration is required
This touching tribute to stars, space, and science celebrates how a small act of compassion can flourish into a life full of meaning and wonder.
Following a girl’s (and a star’s) journey, this book offers a beautiful story and a veritable symphony of options for musical magic. The perfect book to combine science and music,a bona fide STEAM experience.
Featuring an ensemble made up of violin, oboe, trombone, and percussion (one instrument from each of the instrument families), this performance includes music from Mozart, Debussy, Holst, and more.
331 Hubbard St, Allegan, MI 49010
Musical Storybooks are sponsored by
UPDATE: Free Community Concert: First Presbyterian Church
Kalamazoo Kids in Tune Family February - Milwood Magnet School
February 22, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Join Kalamazoo Kids In Tune for our Family February concert!
2916 Konkle St, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Free Concert: Bayati Ensemble and Kalamazoo College Singers Winter Concert
Dalton Recital Hall | Kalamazoo College Light Fine Arts Center
February 25, 2024 | 4 p.m. | Free Admission
Through the Community Partners initiative of Michigan Arts and Culture Council, KSO is collaborating with Kalamazoo College to connect area programs focused on Middle Eastern music. Join us for the first Bayati Ensemble presentation in the Community Partners series! Bayati Ensemble is a college and community ensemble hosted at K-College. This concert pairs Bayati Ensemble with the Kalamazoo College Singers performing Middle Eastern instrumental and vocal music. You can expect a delightfully sonorous afternoon of music from across the globe.
Musical Storybook: Giraffes Can't Dance & Leta G. Snow String Instrument Petting Zoo - Sturgis District Library
June 14, 2024 | 10 - 11 a.m.
Follow our giraffe hero, Gerald, as he learns to dance to his own music.
Waltzing warthogs, lions doing the tango, and a chimpy cha-cha are just a few of the musical styles explored in this story that encourages the audience to embrace who they are without judgment, and dance like nobody's watching.
255 North St, Sturgis, MI 49091
Admission is free and tickets are not required.
Musical Storybooks are sponsored by
Leta G. Snow Brass & Percussion Petting Zoo - Paw Paw District Library
June 18, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Go on a musical adventure and discover popular woodwind and brass instruments with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra!
Musical Storybook: Giraffes Can't Dance - White Pigeon Township Library
June 18, 2024 | 4 -5 p.m.
Follow our giraffe hero, Gerald, as he learns to dance to his own music.
Waltzing warthogs, lions doing the tango, and a chimpy cha-cha are just a few of the musical styles explored in this story that encourages the audience to embrace who they are without judgment, and dance like nobody's watching.
102 N Kalamazoo St, White Pigeon, MI 49099
Admission is free and tickets are not required.
Musical Storybooks are sponsored by
Musical Storybook: Giraffes Can't Dance & Leta G. Snow String Instrument Petting Zoo - Colon Township Library
June 20, 2024 | 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Follow our giraffe hero, Gerald, as he learns to dance to his own music.
Waltzing warthogs, lions doing the tango, and a chimpy cha-cha are just a few of the musical styles explored in this story that encourages the audience to embrace who they are without judgment, and dance like nobody's watching.
128 S Blackstone Ave, Colon, MI 49040
Admission is free and tickets are not required.
Musical Storybooks are sponsored by
Musical Storybook: Giraffes Can't Dance & Leta G. Snow String Instrument Petting Zoo - Constantine Township Library
June 25, 2024 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Follow our giraffe hero, Gerald, as he learns to dance to his own music.
Waltzing warthogs, lions doing the tango, and a chimpy cha-cha are just a few of the musical styles explored in this story that encourages the audience to embrace who they are without judgment, and dance like nobody's watching.
165 Canaris St, Constantine, MI 49042
Admission is free and tickets are not required.
Musical Storybooks are sponsored by
Peter and the Wolf & Leta G. Snow Instrument Petting Zoo - Ransom District Library
June 28, 2024 | 1 - 3 p.m.
In this symphonic fairy tale written by Sergei Prokofiev featuring a Woodwind Quintet (oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, and flute), the characters come alive in the music. In the orchestra biz, this is called “Leitmotif” where each character has a musical theme that is used to create the score. Come on an imagination exploration with us and meet our musical friends in the middle of their adventure.