2025-26 Young People’s Concert Programming (YPCs)
Designed by arts educators in partnership with world-class musicians, the Young People’s Concerts (YPCs) are presented to engage students in multimedia learning and promote arts literacy.
A major component of the San Antonio Philharmonic’s educational initiatives is the Young People’s Concert program for upper elementary grades, a free-admission, school-day field trip opportunity for local schools. Designed to be interactive and interdisciplinary, these programs include a combination of symphonic music and storytelling. The content is well-supported by educational materials (provided by the Philharmonic) that align with TEKS teaching objectives, making it a rich and informative experience for young learners.
This fall the Philharmonic is thrilled to announce our Young People’s Concert “Weather Ahead”. This is a cross-curricular program in which each piece of music performed corresponds to a different type of weather or natural phenomenon, from a dramatic thunderstorm to a gentle snowfall. Students learn about musical instruments and how they are used to replicate real-world sounds, as well as participating in sensory experiences like creating an indoor rainstorm. Performances will be hosted by a local meteorologist who will introduce students to their profession and the science behind weather.
Performances this fall will take place at the Scottish Rite Hall October 22 & 23, 2025. Look for more information soon about our Spring YPCs.
Contact education@saphil.org for more information.
Weather Ahead - Fall 2025
In this program, each piece of music performed corresponds to a different type of weather or natural phenomenon, from a dramatic thunderstorm to a gentle snowfall. Students learn about musical instruments and how they are used to replicate real-world sounds, as well as participating in sensory experiences like creating an indoor rainstorm. In the past, performances have been hosted by local meteorologists to help introduce students to knowledgeable public figures.
Why YPCs? A critical component of our mission is ensuring tangible, real world educational opportunities for young students that encourage their passions and nurture the connection to their communities. Since SAPhil’s inaugural season, our YPCs have reached over 47,000 students across public, charter, and home schools in Bexar and surrounding counties, even reaching students in Uvalde. Experiencing music together creates a shared community, thereby addressing the isolation exacerbated by these students’ experiences growing up online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing access to world-class live music opportunities remains a core goal of the SAPihl as we prepare for our fourth season.
Click Here to view some images and videos of past YPCs hosted by San Antonio Philharmonic.
MASTERCLASSES
The Philharmonic will host free, open to the public Masterclasses with several of our world-renowned guest artists! This is a unique opportunity for local students to perform in front of a live audience and receive instruction from these amazing artists. It is a wonderful learning experience not only for the performers but also for those listening and observing. Four performers will be chosen via application/audition for each class.
This fall we are excited to announce the first two Masterclasses. These will take place at Progresso Hall, 1306 Guadalupe St. San Antonio, TX 78207 and will begin at 10am.
October 18, 2025 - Guest Artist, Cellist Tommy Mesa - Application Deadline: October 3, 2025
Tommy Mesa is one of the most celebrated cellists of his generation. He is on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and has been featured as a soloist with numerous major orchestras. He is the recipient of Lincoln Center’s 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Sphinx Medal of Excellence Award, First Prize in the Sphinx Competition, and was a Winner of the Astral Artists National Auditions.
November 8, 2025 - Guest Artist, A San Antonio treasure, violinist Nancy Zhou - Application Deadline: October 24, 2025
Nancy Zhou is a Chinese-American violinist and Harvard graduate who has performed with leading orchestras worldwide. Born in San Antonio, Zhou made her orchestral debut at age 13 with the San Antonio Symphony. Since 2019, she is an Associated Artist of the Queen Elisabeth Chapel and was appointed Professor of Violin at San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2023. Nancy’s first album, Stories (re)Traced was released this summer with Orchard Classics.
Open Rehearsals
Have you ever wondered how a professional orchestra prepares for a concert? The Philharmonic invites upper middle school and high school students to open rehearsals throughout our season. All open rehearsals will be dress rehearsals for the Philharmonic’s weekend concerts at the Scottish Rite Hall and will begin at 10am.
Contact education@saphil.org for more information.