Young people’s concerts

Family concerts, cushion concerts, school concerts and pupil subscription series

FAMILY CONCERTS

Our family concerts (max. duration: 60 minutes) are ideal for musical »beginners« from the age of 5 years in company of their parents, grand-parents, brothers and sisters. A presenter leads through the concert. Tickets € 5,00 (reduced) / € 10,00 (regular)

WALTZ STEP AND POLKA HIT

Family Concert for everybody 5 years and older

Saturday, 25. October 2025, 3.00 PM
Duration: approx. 50 minutes

A concert “under thunder and lightning” with “Tritsch-Tratsch” on the “beautiful blue Danube” to mark the 200th birthday of the Waltz King. It’s all about the lively music of the famous waltz and polka king Johann Strauss (son), his brothers and his father. And the young audience can look forward to some musical surprises. When was the last time you sang the Tritsch-Tratsch Polka? It’s not difficult: “Busy as the bees, buzz, buzz ...” is what the big choir sings. And when you hear the Pizzicato Polka, which Johann Strauss (son) wrote together with his brother Josef, do you think more of pizza than of pizzicato playing? Who finds the thunder in the polka “Unter Donner und Blitz” way too loud? And who has ever danced a waltz with their teacher to the melody of “The Blue Danube”? Marko Simsa is your host for the programme and invites the audience to sing along loudly and, of course, dance along too!

Gábor Káli Conductor
Marko Simsa Presenter

Johann Strauß-Sohn, Vergnügungszug. Polka op. 281
Josef Strauß, Buchstaben-Polka op. 252
Josef Strauß, Ohne Sorgen. Polka op. 271
Johann Strauß-Sohn und Josef Strauß, Pizzicato-Polka
Johann Strauß-Sohn, Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka op. 214
Johann Strauß-Sohn, Unter Donner und Blitz. Polka op. 324
Johann Strauß, An der schönen blauen Donau. Walzer op. 314
Johann Strauß-Vater, Radetzky-Marsch op. 228

ADVENT CONCERT: "NOT JUST AT CHRISTMAS TIME"

Family Concert for everybody 5 years and older
A cooperation with the ETA Hoffmann-Theater Bamberg

Sunday, 14. December 2025, 11.00 AM

Aunt Milla loves Christmas, Christmas carols and her lavishly decorated Christmas tree. But she soon becomes unable to part with it and is heartbroken when Christmas is over. Her desperate husband Franz has no choice but to make sure that there is still a decorated tree in the house in spring and summer. For Aunt Milla, Christmas is now every day of the year – with presents, lots of music, but also, bit by bit, more and more »signs of wear and tear« ...
»Not Just at Christmas Time« is the title of Heinrich Böll’s famous satire, which forms the basis for this year’s Advent concert by the Bamberg Symphony Brass Quintet – in a version by John von Düffel, retold for children by ETA Hoffmann theatre actor Daniel Seniuk and accompanied by lots of music and musical comedy.

A cooperation with the ETA Hoffmann Theater Bamberg
Duration: approx. 60 minutes

The Brass Quintet of the Bamberg Symphony:
Markus Mester Trumpet
Johannes Trunk Trumpet
Andreas Kreuzhuber Horn
Stefan Lüghausen Trombone
Heiko Triebener Tuba

Daniel Seniuk Narrator

The Brass Quintet of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra Bamberger Symphoniker — The Brass Quintet of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

CARNIVAL CONCERT: "THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS"

Family Concert for everybody age 5 and older

Sunday, 15th February 2026, 11.00 AM & 3.00 PM

What happens when a gazelle, a young giraffe, a leopard tortoise and a ground hornbill all go on a trip together? Something incredible, of course! Their destination: the »Carnival of the Animals« in Paris. It’s a long way from the little animal school in Bulawayo, an African town in Zimbabwe. But that’s no reason to abandon their plan. Self-confidence is not in short supply, especially for Sarabi the leopard tortoise, who is convinced that much more leopard than tortoise lies dormant within her. Even if Bobo the ground hornbill has his doubts. And so the four fearless adventurers encounter excited killer whales and a troubled cuckoo on their journey, they have to hide from Captain Hansen and his crew on a cargo ship, and along the way they unravel an ancient elephant secret... All ages are invited to dive into the story with Malte Arkona and the musicians of the Bamberg Symphony and experience a fascinating journey accompanied by wonderful music. Wearing a costume is encouraged!

Members of the Bamberg Symphony
Malte Arkona Presenter

Camille Saint-Saëns »The Carnival of the Animals« Suite for Chamber Orchestra

"PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION"

Family Concert for everybody age 5 and older

Saturday, 9th May 2026, 3.00 PM
Duration: approx. 50 minutes

A visit to the museum? Boring?! Certainly not this one! In our hosted family concert conducted by Benjamin Haemhouts, you can literally stroll through Modest Mussorgsky's »Pictures at an Exhibition« and experience how individual images evoke moods and how moods become musical sounds. The musicians of the Bamberg Symphony on their brass instruments and percussion, together with soloist Christian Schmitt on the organ, often referred to as the »queen of instruments«, will ensure a very special sound experience. Be part of it and enjoy »Pictures at an Exhibition« in a very special version that takes listeners of all ages on an exciting journey through the museum galleries.

Members of the Bamberg Symphony
Benjamin Haemhouts Conductor
Karin Meissl Presenter
Christian Schmitt Organ

Modest Petrowitsch Mussorgski »Bilder einer Ausstellung« (Arrangement for brassensemble, Organ, Timpani and Drums: Matthias Höfs)

BETWEEN HEARTBEAT AND RHYTHM: WEST SIDE STORY

Youth Concert for everybody age 10 and older

Wednesday, 29th July 2026, 5.00 PM
Duration: approx. 60 minutes

One city, two street gangs and a love that must not be: Together with TV presenter Juri Tetzlaff, the Bamberg Symphony brings the world-famous story of the legendary Broadway musical »West Side Story« to life. It is a story of friendship and animosity, honest feelings and tragic misunderstandings. Two cultures collide and conflicts erupt. And in the midst of it all are Tony and Maria, dreaming of a better world. With music by Leonard Bernstein, Juri Tetzlaff tells the gripping story of West Side Story for classical music newcomers and their families. The audience can become part of the story themselves, taking on roles in the rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. An interactive concert experience full of excitement, fun and stunningly beautiful music!

Paolo Bortolameolli Conductor
Juri Tetzlaff Presenter

Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances from »West Side Story«

CUSHION CONCERTS

»Cushion-Concerts« are music for the little ones: familiar tunes and songs, playfully performed by a small group from the Bamberg Symphony, which will have them rapt and singing along. The youngest concert-goers get right up close to our players and hear stories told in music and words. It’s a child-friendly introduction to classical music for the next generation, and a cosy way to experience the same thrill we grown-ups feel all over again at every evening concert: the fascination of music!

Tickets € 5,00 (concessions) / € 10,00 (full price)

RUBY RED AND THE MYSTERIES OF THE FOREST

Ruby and her friends are having a fun party in the forest. The birds are caught up in the excitement and everyone joins in a colourful concert. But what are those angry noises coming from the bushes? Is one of the forest creatures disturbed by Ruby’s party? Join Ruby Red and her friends on a colourful musical adventure that brings together not only forest animals but also magical woodland creatures! A wonderful story about colours, emotions, friendship and courage. Our cushion concerts, developed by our education team, are held in the concert hall, right on the stage. Sitting on cushions, close to the action, audiences of all ages can make themselves comfortable and are invited to listen, be amazed and join in.

For children from 3-6 years accompanied by an adult.Duration: about 30 minutesSeat cushions are available

Eduard Resatsch Music
Swantje Vesper Concept and Moderation
Members of the Bamberg Symphoniky Orchestra

DATES

Public Concerts 2025/26

Thu, 18. September 2025, 3.00 PM & 4.00 PM
Fri, 19. September 2025, 3.00 PM & 4.00 PM
Sat, 20. September 2025, 3.00 PM & 4.00 PM
Fri, 8. May 2026, 3.00 PM & 4.00 PM (Hegelsaal)
Sat, 9. May 2026, 3.00 PM & 4.00 PM (Hegelsaal)

Special Concerts for Kindergarten groups
Group bookings can be done at: education@bamberger-symphoniker.de
Fri, 19. September 2025, 10.00 AM & 11.00 AM
Mon, 27. October 2025, 10.00 AM & 11.00 AM
Tue, 28. October 2025, 10.00 AM & 11.00 AM
Fri, 8. Mai 2026, 10.00 AM & 11.00 AM (Hegelsaal)

School Concerts

For young people, attending a concert by a big orchestra with a conductor in the Bamberg Concert Hall is a special experience. That’s why every year the Bamberg Symphony puts on concerts specially for groups of schoolchildren, inviting them to listen, be amazed and join in.

In the 2025/26 season, we have school concerts available for the following programs:

WALTZ STEP AND POLKA HIT (classes 1-4)
22. October 9.30 am & 11.00 am
23. October 9.30 am & 11.00 am
24. October 9.30 am & 11.00 am

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION (classes 3-6)
7. May 9.30 am & 11.00 am
8. May 9.30 am & 11.00 am

BETWEEN HEARTBEAT AND RYTHM: WEST SIDE STORY (classes 5-9)
28. July 9.30 am & 11.00 am
29. July 9.30 am

Notice: Please note that attendance at these concerts is limited to class groups by prior arrangement. For all enquiries, please contact education@bamberger-symphoniker.de

Available from our Subscriptions Bureau and Advance Box Office:
Bamberger Symphoniker Shop
Lange Straße 30, 96047 Bamberg
Tel.: 0951 / 99 39 10 99 | ticket@bamberger-symphoniker.de