One of our friends told us about a family-friendly orchestra program at the Civic Center, and I’ll admit—I had a hard time imagining a scenario where my children would enjoy the orchestra and the people around us would enjoy it too. But we decided to give it a try, and I’m so glad we did.

The theme of the night was “feelings.” The orchestra played different pieces and then talked with the audience about the emotions the music brought to mind. There were dancers, vocalists, and even a teen orchestra that performed. At one point, the entire audience joined in for a sing-along of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” led by the orchestra—it was such a sweet light-hearted touch.

Music is one of Sophia’s very favorite things, and they did an amazing job accommodating her. When they saw us arriving with her wheelchair, we were to excited to be ushered to a private box overlooking the stage! We had space to arrange everything in a way that worked for our family, which made the experience so much more comfortable and enjoyable.

Before the show, there was also a “musical playground” where kids could try out different instruments. Blake loved the horns, and Sophia had a great time exploring the percussion section. It was such a thoughtful addition and a perfect way to get kids engaged before the performance even began.

Overall, the event was incredibly well done. It’s a wonderful way to introduce young children to the arts without the pressure of needing to sit still or stay quiet for long periods of time.

The next Civic Center family show is on May 3, with the theme “Take Me Out to the Ballgame!” If you’ve ever wanted to see “The Wave” at an orchestra concert, this is your chance: https://www.okcciviccenter.com/events/detail/ballgame