Princeton University Concerts returns renowned pianist Orli Shaham as the host of Orli Shaham’s Bach Yard, a family concert, on March 14 in Princeton.
The family concert, which is set for 1 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium at Alexander Hall, is a program designed to introduce kids ages 3-6 to classical chamber music and called “Welcome the Winds!”.
“Welcome the Winds!” will feature wind players from Ensemble Connect, a program of Carnegie Hall, and present instruments that have not yet appeared on past family events at Princeton University Concerts.
According to Princeton University officials, tickets for Princeton University Concerts’ family programs are $5 for children and $10 for adults.
“This age is a key time to develop lifelong loves and skills. It’s the best moment to pick up a second language, and music is exactly that. If you learn it at that age, it will stay with you forever,” Shaham said. “My Bach Yard engages young people and their parents in a fun, interactive concert experience which I host. We combine live ensemble performances with storytelling, costumed musicians, and a slew of activities in which the children can take part.”
She stated that she looks forward to seeing the families in her Bach Yard.
Officials said each performance of Orli Shaham’s Bach Yard is a unique concert experience developed around the four instrument families of the orchestra: strings, brass, woodwind, and percussion. A musical story time, narrated by Shaham, is part of the show, and include activities where children can get up close and interact with musical instruments and the musicians who play them.
Shaham’s Bach Yard was founded in 2010 as Baby Got Bach and was inspired by her own young sons’ experiences with music.
The program has been presented by the 92nd Street Y, Le Poisson Rouge, and WQXR’s The Greene Space in New York City, Princeton University Concerts, Aspen Music Festival, The American Friends of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, and Centene Center in St. Louis.
Guest artists have included violinist Gil Shaham, Sō Percussion, Escher String Quartet, Rolston String Quartet, WindSync, The Westerlies, and musicians from the St. Louis Symphony, Pacific Symphony, and Aspen Music Festival.
For more information about the concert, visit www.princetonuniversityconcerts.org, or by calling 609-258-9220.