FAQs

Tips for First Time Attendees

Attending a Symphony Orchestra for the first time can be a little intimidating. What’s in store for you? What’s expected of you? Should you dress to the nines? That’s why we’ve assembled some practical thoughts to help make your first concert experience thoroughly enjoyable and faux pas free.

• What should I wear to a GBSO concert?
There is no dress code for GBSO concerts. Concertgoers are typically in business casual attire, which might include sweaters, jackets, skirts, khakis and slacks. Contrary to general opinion, gowns and tuxedos are not necessary to enjoy a GBSO concert. Come dressed to enjoy yourself!

• How long are concerts?
Classics and Holiday concerts are usually around two hours including intermission.

• What time do concerts begin?
Concerts normally start at 7:30 pm at the Weidner Center. However, times may vary for special performances, so please check your tickets. It’s best to arrive an hour before the concert is scheduled to begin. This leaves you time for parking, picking up tickets, visiting the restroom and finding your seat. You’ll also be able to participate in pre-concert chats and lobby events.

• What if I arrive late?
Being late is sometimes unavoidable. However, to minimize any disruption to other concertgoers, patrons who arrive after the concert begins will be asked to wait to be seated until an appropriate pause between works.

• When should I clap?
Proper concert etiquette dictates clapping only after a work is completed, and not after movements. You can refer to your program book to find out how many movements there are in a particular work. After the final movement of a work, applaud to your heart's content. Don't let this concern keep you out of the hall; if in doubt, wait for the rest of the audience before applauding.

• Can I bring my wireless phone or pager?
It is always best to turn off cell phones and pagers before entering Cofrin Hall. Noises such as a pager going off or a cell phone ringing can be very distracting to the conductor, the musicians, and your fellow audience members. Please set the device on vibrate – this way you can quietly retreat to the lobby to answer an
important call or page.

• What about other noises – coughing, talking?
Coughing is an unavoidable human reality, but there are ways to minimize and avoid coughing during a music performance. If you feel a cold coming on, please bring lozenges with you. Do unwrap them ahead of time. You may not realize it but unwrapping a cough drop during a performance is quite loud and distracting. If you need to cough occasionally, please try to wait for the end of the movement. If that is not possible, you can try to bury your cough in a louder section of music, rather than coughing in the midst of a delicate pianissimo. In either case, a handkerchief can help muffle the disruption. If you need to cough more than a couple of times, there's nothing wrong with getting up and excusing yourself from the Hall for the rest of the movement. Also, it is customary not to talk while the music is playing. Being sensitive to your neighbors allows everyone to have a more pleasant concert experience.

• What kind of music does the GBSO play?
For the 2007/2008 season, the GBSO plays five Classics concerts and two Holiday concerts. Our repertoire includes some of the great Masterworks of musical literature, exciting new works by living composers, and holiday favorites. Programs will often feature a distinguished guest artist performing as a soloist with the Orchestra.

• What is Classical Music?
The term "classical music" is often used in a very broad sense and can refer to a wide range of music, not just that of the Classical Period music. It can be anything from a Bach Concerto to a Brahms Rhapsody, anything from an Adams Tone Poem to a Schubert Symphony, from a recital for a solo performer or string quartet to a full concerto with soloist and orchestra to Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand."

An orchestra, like the GBSO, generally comprises strings (violins, violas, cellos and basses), woodwinds (clarinets, oboes, flutes and bassoons), brass (trumpets, French horns, trombones and tubas) and percussion (drums, xylophones and bells), or some combination thereof.

• Will I recognize any music?
Odds are, you'll recognize far more than you realize. Many of today's popular songs, television shows and movies are based on classical themes, like the "Lone Ranger" theme (Rossini's William Tell Overture), the Bugs Bunny cartoon "What's Opera, Doc?" (Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries), United Airlines commercials (Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue), and many more.

• Can I exchange my tickets?
ABSOLUTELY! You can exchange your tickets for another GBSO concert in the 2007/2008 season. All exchanges are subject to availability. Seat locations cannot be guaranteed. For the more popular concerts, you may have to exchange for seats in a lower-priced section or pay the difference in exchanging for more expensive seats. There is an exchange fee of $4 per ticket for non-season ticket holders. Call the Weidner Center Box Office at 920-465-2217. Hours: Mon-Fri, 10am - 6pm; Sat, 9am- 1pm.

• What if I Can't Attend a Concert?
If you cannot use or exchange your tickets, please pass them on to friends or donate them to the GBSO. To donate your tickets to the GBSO, please phone the Weidner Center Box Office at 920-465-2217 before performance time. The WC Box Office can take the location of your seats and make them available to waiting patrons. A receipt acknowledging the value of your tickets will be issued to you in January for all seats donated for resale.

• What if I lose my tickets?
NO PROBLEM. We can have a new set waiting at the Weidner Center Box Office. Just call the Box Office at 920-465-2217 or
1-800-328-TKTS and they will assist you.

• Who can I contact with questions or concerns?
The GBSO is ready and waiting to answer any of your questions! Send us an e-mail at info@greenbaysymphony.org or call us directly at 920-435-3465. Please note that all programs and artists are subject to change. But there’s an easy way to stay ahead of the curve. The GBSO's website always has the latest information. Visit us here for continual updates at www.greenbaysymphony.org.

• How can I learn more about the GBSO performances?
Join Music Director Bridget-Michaele Reischl for exciting pre-concert conversations about the evening's program. Concert Conversations take place from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Weidner Center's Cofrin Hall before each Classics Concert. Concert Conversations are free and open to all ticket-holders. Also, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Weidner Center's Fort Howard Hall, you can enjoy an elegant dinner with Music Director Bridget-Michaele Reischl and special guests. Suppers are presented by the Friends of the Green Bay Symphony before each Classics concert. For more information, call 920-434-4747. Additionally, visit the GBSO website here for Program Notes and other music education opportunities available to you through the GBSO.

• Are there provisions for people with disabilities?
YES. All Green Bay Symphony Orchestra programs are accessible to people with disabilities. If you have a special need, please inform your Ticket Office representative when purchasing tickets. They will be happy to assist you in arranging accessibility services to make your trip to the Weidner Center enjoyable. We hope this information has been helpful. If you still have questions, send us an email at info@greenbaysymphony.org, and we will be happy to respond promptly.