Cd'A Symphony strives to reach younger audience

The Coeur d’Alene Symphony is shaking things up this season to get families more involved with classical music.

From concert programs that double as coloring pages to being able to learn about all the instruments from the professionals who play them, there are many ways kids can have fun at the symphony.

“Classical music has a stigma, especially with young people, of being stuffy or you feel like you have to put on a dress and go out. But our concerts aren’t really like that,” said Mika Hood, the Coeur d’Alene Symphony’s orchestra manager and lead cellist. “It’s very casual and we try to make it a very welcoming environment.”

This season, for half an hour before each concert, kids will be invited to the “instrument petting zoo,” where a different section of instruments will be featured: strings, winds and brass. The musicians will teach kids about their instruments, giving demonstrations and letting them play.

The symphony will also let kids from the audience be guest conductors for the national anthem or other short pieces at concerts.

“We’re really trying to broaden our outreach this season,” Hood said. “We’re trying to gear more toward kids and being family friendly.”

The week before each concert, the symphony hopes to give smaller concerts for kids at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. The symphony is also trying to give performances throughout the season in the lobby of Kootenai Health.

As orchestra manager, Hood wants to bring the symphony to the community. She said whenever she’s dragged her friends to a concert, they end up liking it more that thought they would.

“I just want more people to come, just once, so they are more open to it,” she said.

The Coeur d’Alene symphony has been performing for more than 30 years. It is primarily a volunteer group with more than 60 musicians from North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Western Montana. Most players have a day job and dedicate a lot of personal time to practice, rehearse and perform with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.

“It’s a really special thing we have that. The fact we have so many volunteers is astounding to me,” Hood said.

The concert season consists of five different concerts to be played between Oct. 7 and May 5, 2017. Each concert will have two performances. Concert tickets are $27 for adults and $10 for students and children. Season tickets are on sale for a 10 percent discount if they are not bought online. The discounted prices are $121.50 for adults and $50 for students and children.

The symphony will be performing for free twice before the concert season starts this year. A group of about 13 string players will perform at Art on the Green Saturday at noon on the North Idaho College campus. The group will play music three of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” Vivaldi, known for complex textures and baroque harmonies, composed the grouping of concertos for violin.

“Each concerto really captures each season so well,” Hood said. “You could probably hear them and know which one is playing. Summer has a storm and there are birds chirping in spring.”

The other free concert will be at City Park under the Rotary Bandshell Labor Day, Sept. 5. People are encouraged to bring picnics and blankets. Bob Bittick, a volunteer for the Coeur d’Alene Symphony, said in the past years more than 1,000 people have attended.

“It’s quality, live entertainment,” he said. “Live entertainment is second to none.”