For Youth and Families

There are so many ways for families to introduce the next generation of music lovers to the joys of orchestral music.

A woman with blonde hair wearing a black sequined jacket holds a phone while standing in an auditorium. A young girl with blonde hair in a pink dress with tights and shiny boots stands behind her, and a young boy with brown hair, a blue jacket, and binoculars around his neck walks in front of her. Other people are seated in rows of orange seats in the background.

We partner closely with leading Clark County School District districts and educators to provide hundreds of complimentary tickets to students from Clark County school districts, Title I schools, and others facing financial barriers.

We also offer 50% discounted tickets for family members accompanying students so that the whole family can enjoy music together.

Complimentary Student Tickets & Discounted Family Tickets

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VSO Brass, Wind, and String Ensemble Performances

We provide engaging brass, woodwind, and string ensemble performances for schools throughout the Vancouver area, bringing live music directly into educational settings and creating memorable experiences for students of all ages. Our programs are designed to introduce young audiences to a wide variety of musical styles, instruments, and performance techniques while fostering an appreciation for the performing arts.

A group of five musicians playing wind instruments on stage in front of a school audience, with children sitting on the floor watching. The musicians are dressed in colorful shirts and are playing brass and woodwind instruments, with a background of a bulletin board, American flag, and green flag.

In addition to our full ensemble offerings, we proudly sponsor educational outreach concerts such as the “Meet the Brass Family” program presented by the Columbia River Brass Quintet. These interactive performances give students the opportunity to learn about brass instruments, hear professional musicians perform up close, and discover how music can inspire creativity, collaboration, and lifelong learning.

A group of four musicians performing for a large audience of children seated on the floor in a gymnasium or community center. The musicians are playing string instruments: two violins, a viola, and a cello.

Student Outreach Concerts

Each year, we present symphonic concerts for elementary and middle school students from across the region at Skyview Concert Hall. These educational performances feature the full VSO orchestra under the direction of Maestro Salvador Brotons and are designed to introduce young audiences to the excitement and artistry of live symphonic music.

In addition to orchestral performances, each concert includes an engaging instrument demonstration and an interactive question-and-answer session, giving students the opportunity to learn about the different sections of the orchestra, discover how instruments produce sound, and gain a deeper appreciation for the collaborative nature of musical performance. These concerts provide an inspiring and accessible introduction to the world of classical music for students of all backgrounds.

Orchestra performance with musicians playing violins and cellos, while two women speak on stage, one of whom is standing at a harp and the other holding a microphone.

A group of young musicians practicing in a church or concert hall, with a conductor leading them. There is a decorated Christmas tree and stained glass windows in the background.

Maestro in the Schools

Longtime Music Director and Conductor Salvador Brotons regularly visits band and orchestra classrooms throughout the Vancouver–Portland metropolitan area to work directly with student musicians. Through these educational outreach visits, students have the unique opportunity to learn from an internationally acclaimed conductor and composer as he shares his musical expertise, offers performance coaching, and provides insight into ensemble collaboration and artistry.

These in-school sessions inspire young musicians by giving them firsthand exposure to professional mentorship while strengthening their technical skills, musical confidence, and appreciation for orchestral performance.

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VSO Education Resources

We maintain a growing collection of blogs and podcasts that explore the history and stories behind composers and their works while spotlighting guest artists, VSO musicians, and conductors. In addition, we create short-form video interviews and features for social media, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the people and performances that bring our music to life.

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