The Pasadena Showcase House Youth Concert, at Walt Disney Concert Hall, is alive with laughter and music each fall as over 4,000 enraptured fourth grade students experience an original orchestral theater production. Since 1953, the Pasadena Showcase House Youth Concert has introduced over 200,000 fourth graders to a classical concert performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2003, the students have had the additional treat of attending a performance in the new Walt Disney Concert Hall. Proceeds from the Pasadena Showcase House of Design and a generous gift from The Green Foundation make this concert possible.


For most students, this is the first opportunity to experience the remarkable art and architecture of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and their first exposure to classical symphonic music in a world-class concert hall.

For PSHA's 2009 Youth Concert, children from 47 schools in the San Gabriel Valley were entertained by Los Angeles Philharmonic's original production centered around Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals" and showcasing sounds made by a variety of animals such as the majestic roar of a lion, the calls of a cuckoo bird, the ponderous noise of an elephant and the gliding movement of a swan. In 2008, the Youth Concert featured the music of Debussy, especially "La Mer", along with images from well known visual impressionists. “The Spirit of Bach” was the theme at the 2007 concert. The theatrical aspect centered on the choice music to be featured at Bach’s birthday celebration. Needless to say, these choices all involved the music of Bach. The 2006 concert, featuring the music of Mozart and Strauss, was about a young boy who was told to use his “imagination” rather than play video games. Mozart and Straus appear, as he listens to music, and spark his interest in the art of creating beautiful music. “Beethoven’s in the House” was the theme at the 2005 concert. During the concert, the children were led on an imaginary tour of the house where Beethoven was born and learned about his struggles to overcome rejection and the loss of his hearing.

These symphonic programs prove to be a meaningful and memorable occasion in the education of a new generation of classical fans.

Just as the award winning Pasadena Showcase House Music Mobile™ introduces third graders to classical music, the Pasadena Showcase House Youth Concert continues their education by providing fourth graders with a classical performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Questions? Email YouthConcert@PasadenaShowcase.org