If you are new to the symphony audience, we welcome you!  We believe that you are in for an amazing adventure.  If you listen just with your ears, you will be missing so much of the magic of music; you'll want your heart and mind listening, too.

Here are a few notes to help you enjoy FSO concerts and all others you may attend:

• In the time you have before the concert or during the intermission, read the program notes in the program booklet; this will be very helpful to your understanding and enjoyment of the concert.  Many compositions are program music that tell a story or are of particular historical significance.  In such a case reading the notes in the concert program will "connect" you with the composition.  The Berlioz Symphonie fantastique is a wonderful example of this kind of music.
• For the sake of those around you and the musicians on stage, turn off all cell phones (or put on vibrate), and please refrain from talking during the performance.
• Before the concert begins, the Concertmaster (first chair first violin player) will ask for an "A" from the principal oboe player to tune the orchestra; usually woodwinds first, then brass, and finally the strings.  This takes time, yet is critical (the players must all be playing with the same tuning).
• After the concert has begun, as a courtesy to other patrons, you should refrain from leaving or entering the auditorium.
  
• The conductor enters and is acknowledged by the orchestra and the audience and takes his place on the podium.
• If the musical selection has two or more movements (sections within the larger composition), these will be listed in your program booklet.  Learning some musical terms will help you to understand what the movements will sound like (allegro = fast; adagio = slow; con fuoco = with fire/very fast; etc.).  The orchestra usually pauses between movements, but you are asked not to applaud until the entire piece is over when the conductor lowers the baton and turns toward the audience.
• The conductor may leave the stage between musical selections and at intermission and should be greeted by applause on his return to the podium.