First time at the Symphony?

Welcome to the RSO! We couldn’t be happier that you’re joining our audience. If you’re a symphony newbie, the following tips and hints have been compiled from common questions and are designed to help you feel like a regular!

What if I don’t know the music being performed?

It doesn’t matter (much)! One of the great joys of going to a Roanoke Symphony concert is being introduced to a great piece of music you’ve never heard before, or listening to a superb performance of a piece you have known for years. Many audience members find that attending a live concert enhances their enjoyment of a piece they already know. For detailed information about each piece on this season’s Masterworks concerts, contact us for our Program Notes.

Before each Masterworks performance the RSO offers a pre-concert event entitled Illuminations. These informal gatherings with music director David Stewart Wiley are a great opportunity to gain useful insight into the performance just before the concert begins. Sometimes these presentations provide an opportunity to meet guest soloists and ask questions about their work. For more information on, see our Keynotes page.

May I bring my phone?

All electronic and mechanical devices, including cell phones and watch alarms, should be turned off before entering the concert hall. If you need to be reached in an emergency, please advise an usher and you will be located. Beeps and tweets can spoil a concert.

What about comments and quiet conversations?

For Masterworks concerts, it’s customary not to talk while the music is being performed. On the other hand, the RSO’s Picnic at the Pops concerts may have you dancing in the aisles!