Making Music Accessible: Free Youth Tickets at Olympia Chamber Orchestra
At Olympia Chamber Orchestra (OCO), we believe live orchestral music should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, background, or financial circumstances. Increasing access to live orchestral music throughout the South Sound is at the heart of our mission, and we have long worked to keep our ticket prices as affordable as possible.
Now, we are excited to take another step toward making orchestral music more accessible to our community!
Introducing Free Youth Tickets!
Thanks to the generous donations of our community supporters and funding through Inspire Olympia, OCO is thrilled to announce that admission is now FREE for all youth under 18 years of age!
Additionally, up to two adults accompanying youth attendees will receive our discounted Senior, Student, and Military ticket rate.
By removing the cost of youth admission and reducing ticket prices for accompanying adults, we hope to eliminate one more barrier for families who want to experience live orchestral music together.
We believe orchestral music is for everyone: young and old, people of all cultures, and individuals and families of all financial means. Welcoming young people into our musical community is an important investment in the future of the arts in the South Sound.
“Investing in our youth audiences is crucial for fine arts organizations,” said NIckolas Carlson, OCO’s Music Director. “Access to the arts is vital, and I am so grateful that we now have the ability to offer these free tickets for children and youth.”
Bringing Young Musicians into the Spotlight
Our commitment to youth extends beyond making our concerts affordable. We also believe in creating opportunities for young musicians to experience the joy of performing alongside an orchestra.
OCO has a longstanding partnership with the Olympia Music Teachers Association's Concerto Competition, which showcases the talents of local youth pianists. Winners of the competition's advanced divisions are invited to perform their selected concertos with OCO, giving these emerging musicians the opportunity to take center stage alongside our orchestra.
These collaborations are meaningful not only for the young soloists but also for the musicians who share the stage with them.
Reflecting on our most recent collaboration, OCO cellist Dan Wiktork shared:
“Apart from the sheer joy of creating music with the Olympia Chamber Orchestra, it warmed my heart to perform with two young highly talented students. My own two children each had a chance to perform as soloists in their high school and it positively impacted their lives. How satisfying ‘to pay it forward’ while adding to the joyous musical affirmation of community life!”
These experiences reflect what makes a community orchestra special: the opportunity for musicians of different generations and backgrounds to come together, learn from one another, and share their love of music.
Creating Memorable Experiences for Young Audiences
We also want young audience members to experience orchestral music in ways that spark curiosity, excitement, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
At select performances, OCO has invited children to sit on stage during a musical selection, bringing them closer to the instruments and musicians than ever before. Many children have enthusiastically participated, with some even pressing their palms against the stage floor to feel the vibrations of the music resonating around them.
These moments remind us that experiencing live music is about more than listening. It is about feeling, discovering, and connecting with the music and the people creating it.
This season, we are excited to expand opportunities for young musicians by featuring student ensembles in the lobby before select performances. These pre-concert performances will give students another opportunity to share their talents while welcoming audiences into an evening of music.
Building a Musical Community for All Generations
Whether it is a child's first experience hearing an orchestra, a young pianist performing a concerto, or a family discovering a new shared tradition, we want Olympia Chamber Orchestra to be a place where everyone feels welcome.
Making music accessible is about more than the price of a ticket. It is about creating opportunities to participate, fostering connections across generations, and ensuring that live orchestral music remains a vibrant part of our community.
We are grateful to Inspire Olympia, our donors, musicians, and community supporters who make these opportunities possible.
We look forward to welcoming more young people and their families to our concerts and sharing the joy of live orchestral music with the next generation.
Join us at an upcoming Olympia Chamber Orchestra concert and experience the music together!
