Music, words and visuals will spark the wonder and imagination of children when the Grand Rapids Symphony presents its next Lollipops concert, “The Little Engine that Could.” This forty-five minute musical storytime is a perfect introduction to music for children ages 4-7. Two performances will be held on Tuesday, July 26 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at Sunshine Community Church.
This musical version of the classic children’s story teaches the value of optimism, hard work, and believing in oneself. Can the littlest engine of them all climb such a big mountain? “I think I can, I think I can!”
Led by Associate Conductor John Varineau, the concerts will be a wonderful interactive experience for children and their parents. Whimsical props depicting images from the beloved children’s book will be incorporated into the performance. Narrator Todd Avery along with other actors will engage children to bring the story’s characters to life.
To help children identify the different instrument families of the orchestra, Symphony musicians will wear colored t-shirts to show whether they belong to the string, woodwind, brass or percussion family. These colors help little ones understand the various sections of the orchestra. Complimentary lollipops are also available for the children as they leave the performance.
“Children will be entertained and will learn about symphonic music. Everyone in the audience will have a good time with lots of smiles all around,” shares Varineau.
General admission tickets are $5 and are available by calling the Symphony Ticket Services office at 616/454-9451, Ext. 4, or by visiting the office in person at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the day of the concert.
These concerts are made possible with support from the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.