Learn Before You Listen

ENJOY a variety of enlightening and engaging ways to learn before you listen for the best possible concert experience

Music Lovers’ Luncheons

Curious about the conductors, composers, and musicians featured at an upcoming concert? Want to deepen your understanding of the music being performed? A few days before the show, join fellow music lovers’ to break bread, learn from, and speak with these artists before they take to the stage. These events are free to the public, but pre-registration is required.

Pre-concert CONVERSATIONS

Our Pre-Concert Conversations take place one hour prior to each Classical concert on Tuesday evenings at 6:00pm and Sunday afternoons at 1:30pm. Join one or more guest speakers in the main hall for a 30-minute discussion around the upcoming performance. Hear in-depth information that will help frame the concert and enrich your listening experience.

_{Composers Enrico Chapela and Ana Lara with Music Director Eckart Preu.}

Program Notes

For Classical performances, we’ll send a pre-concert email reminder to all ticket holders whose email address we have on file. The email will be sent just prior to the performance date and include program notes for each piece in the concert, which provide detailed insights on the composers and works being performed. These notes can also be found on each of the event pages on our website, and in Sights, Sounds & Stories.

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

If you don’t feel like reading an in-depth note about each piece to be performed you can read the ‘Program at a Glance’ for each performance – just a little snack of information instead of an entire meal. These will also be sent in the Classical pre-concert reminder, can be found on the concert event page on our website, and in Sights, Sounds & Stories.

MAINE PUBLIC CLASSICAL BROADCASTS

If you enjoyed a Classical performance and are thinking to yourself ‘wow I wish I could experience that again’ you can! Each Classical concert is broadcast about 2 weeks after the final performance of the program, at 8:00 PM on Maine Public Classical. Find the station nearest you, and the broadcast dates for the current season, here.

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Announcing the all new Chamber Series

In honor of its 100th anniversary season, the Portland Symphony Orchestra steps beyond Merrill Auditorium and brings the music to you.

This all-new Chamber Music series celebrates the intimate and artistically vibrant nature of small musician led groups as they perform on stages throughout the state of Maine.

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Bring your class to a youth concert

Coming in 2025… The Portland Symphony Orchestra partners with Carnegie Hall to present Link Up: The Orchestra Sings! Link Up is a fully participatory, school-day concert program. Students will fill Merrill Auditorium to sing, play recorders, move, and listen along with the symphony from their seats. This program is designed for students in grades 3-5 but all are welcome and encouraged to participate!

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Portland Symphony Orchestra

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Learn Before You Listen

ENJOY a variety of enlightening and engaging ways to learn before you listen for the best possible concert experience

Music Lovers’ Luncheons

Pre-concert CONVERSATIONS

Program Notes

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

MAINE PUBLIC CLASSICAL BROADCASTS

Thank you to our generous sponsors

Announcing the all new Chamber Series

Never been to a symphony before? Don’t worry, we’re here to help

Bring your class to a youth concert

your gift matters

ECKART PREU

Help keep the arts alive in Maine