It's my first time attending a Longwood Symphony Orchestra concert...
... What should I know?
What is the Longwood Symphony Orchestra? What’s different about the LSO?
The Longwood Symphony is the orchestra of Boston’s medical, healthcare, and research community. We are not professional musicians; most of our players are physicians, nurses, researchers, physical therapists, psychologists, and medical/dental students who love playing orchestra music and the camaraderie of performing together. Our players represent most of the major medical institutions in the greater Boston area and beyond.
Who is the Community Partner?
Each LSO concert benefits a Community Partner, a non-profit organization that aids underserved communities across Boston. LSO helps the Community Partner raise funds and awareness while also providing long-term strategy, fundraising, and marketing guidance. The LSO has been nationally recognized with the League of American Orchestras' MetLife Award for Excellence in Community Engagement and has also received the Commonwealth Award, the highest cultural recognition in Massachusetts. The 2023-24 season Community Partners are Project STEP, Shelter Music Boston, the Augustus A. White III Institute for Healthcare Equity, and YWCA Cambridge. You will meet a representative at the beginning of the concert when they say hello from the stage. Learn more about the Community Partner program here.
When should I arrive for a Longwood Symphony concert?
We perform at Jordan Hall in New England Conservatory. Doors to the hall open at 7:30pm for an 8:00pm concert. If you are picking up your tickets at Will Call, we recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes before the concert to give you time to pick up your tickets and find your seats. Will Call is located at the Beethoven statue on the 1st floor of New England Conservatory. When you enter NEC, head right and follow the hallway as it curves; Will Call is located by the next set of exterior doors. Ushers will help you locate your seat once you enter the hall.
Where do I park/how do I get to Jordan Hall?
Please visit the Parking & Directions page: https://longwoodsymphony.org/directions
How do I choose a good seat?
This is a very personal question. Some people love the orchestra level, which seats you closer to the players. Others prefer to sit in the balcony where you can look into the orchestra and watch all of the different instruments as they’re being played. Regardless, we are lucky that every seat in Jordan Hall is acoustically excellent and will provide an amazing listening experience.
How long are the concerts?
LSO concerts are approximately 2 hours long including a 15-minute intermission.
What if I arrive late/need to leave early?
Concerts begin promptly at the scheduled time, and latecomers will be seated by ushers during a break in the music. If you must leave the hall during the performance, please do so quietly and preferably not in the middle of a slow piece!
What do I wear? Is there a dress code?
Please wear whatever you like! It used to be that audience members would wear tuxedos and gowns to attend the symphony. But now, audience members can come wearing a wide variety of clothing, from jeans to fancy dress. Many audience members will make an evening out of the symphony, dressing up and going out with friends before or after the concert, but it’s absolutely acceptable to be casually dressed. Generally speaking, you can't go wrong with business casual or what you would wear to a nice dinner.
What kind of music will I hear? What if I don’t know much about music?
The LSO performs a wide variety of music, from traditional repertoire, including Beethoven, Brahms, and Schumann, to music by contemporary composers like John Cage and Jennifer Higdon, movie music by John WIlliams, and composers from underrepresented groups like Valerie Coleman and William Grant Still. We’ve also done world premieres (meaning, the piece was specifically written for the LSO and this is the first time ever it is being performed), opera arias, and choral music. The music chosen for each concert is If you don’t know much about orchestral music, that’s OK! Relax and enjoy the performance.
How can I learn more about the music you’ll be performing?
Program notes provide short biographies on the composers, the creative process, and the story behind the music. When you arrive, ushers will hand you a printed program and a digital version will be emailed to all ticket holders in advance. We also post Spotify playlists on each concert page on the LSO website.
When do I applaud?
The protocol nowadays is that applause is held until after a complete composition and not given between movements. When in doubt, refer to your program and watch for the conductor to indicate the appropriate movement. During the applause, the conductor may indicate to specific players or sections to stand to recognize their hard work. If you see the players shuffling their feet, it means that they are applauding their colleague for a job well done!
Can I bring children?
We welcome children who are ready to enjoy a night of orchestral music! We don’t have rules about ages, as we recognize that every child has a different level of appreciation of music. We do expect all audience members to not be distracting to the musicians and their fellow concertgoers. If you have a child who is borderline ready or is interested but may not be ready to sit through a whole concert, we recommend that you select seats in the balcony, where it is easier to duck out if you need to leave quickly.
Can I use my cell phone?
Cell phone use and screens are not allowed in the audience. No video recording or photographs are permitted except during applause. Please silence and/or turn off any electronic devices including phones and beepers before the concert begins.
Who is the Concertmaster, and what do they do?
The Concertmaster is essentially the orchestra’s front person. They represent the group as a whole and sit in the first chair in the First Violin section. Since 2017, the LSO concertmaster has been Stacie Lin, who is a dual MD/PhD student at Harvard Medical School. The Concertmaster will enter the stage just before the concert is to begin. The Concertmaster turns to the orchestra and gives a signal to the principal oboe player to play an “A,” and the different instrumental sections will take turns tuning. As a team, it’s important to have an orchestra in tune with each other.
Can I meet the musicians, soloist and conductor?
Yes! After each concert, we host a light reception in Williams Hall, which is right down the hallway from the concert hall. This is a great chance to meet the orchestra musicians, the featured soloist, and our Music Director Jotaro Nakano. Everyone who attends the concert is welcome to join us at the reception!
I had a great time at the concert! What can I do to support LSO further?
We’re glad you enjoyed your time with LSO! We hope you will come back for another concert in the future. If you want to return frequently, consider becoming a subscriber which means you will have tickets to all four of our season concerts. Subscribers get a discount on ticket prices and have the ability to save their favorite seats from concert to concert. If you’d like to support the orchestra further, you can be part of our mission to heal the community through music by making a donation at https://longwoodsymphony.org/donate .
I have more questions! How do I find out more?
Please contact us by phone at 617-987-0100 or by email at info@longwoodsymphony.org - we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about our organization and our concerts!