Expect to have a good time. Don’t be surprised if you find that you are utterly moved by the live music! Let go of your preconceived notions about classical music or the concert experience. Be open to feeling the music with all your senses. Sit back and relax, watch the dynamics between conductor, musicians and soloists. We are pretty sure you will be really glad you attended.

No, just come and enjoy! Over time, concertgoers find their enjoyment is deeper if they prepare for a concert. This can be as simple as reading the program notes on our website or listening to the works in advance of the concerts. Additionally, you can attend FREE pre-concert Behind the Baton talks before each Palace Series orchestral performance at the Palace Theatre.

(Please check the concert web page on this website for detail on timing and location of the pre-concert talks.)

You might! You may not know a full piece of music but you may recognize a section. Orchestral music is all around us: in commercials, movie soundtracks, television themes, cartoons etc. Popular music often quotes classical melodies, as well.

Orchestra Lumos meets you where you are, throughout your neighborhoods—in concert halls, schools, libraries, churches, and even breweries.

Our Palace Series at the Palace Theatre is where you will experience our full orchestra and hear great orchestral music of the masters in classical music as well as music from some newer generations of composers. These concerts are offered twice within a weekend, on Saturday night at usually at 7:30pm (or 7:00 pm on Saturday May 25) and Sunday afternoons at 3pm.

Our Small Space Series are intimate, immersive concerts created and performed by our musicians in a venues across Fairfield County and Westchester, from Rye to Bridgeport.  Start times vary – please check our website.

Explore all of the events in our 2024-2025 Season.

It’s up to you! Wear your jeans or dress up. You won’t be the only one in the hall dressed in either way! Some people enjoy dressing up and making a special night of it. Often the Sunday afternoon crowd is more casual than the Saturday night crowd. We just want you to be comfortable, just be you!

Parking is conveniently located for just $3 across the street from the Palace Theatre at Landmark Garage.  For directions, a map and more information, please visit https://www.palacestamford.org/plan-your-visit/directions-parking

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before concert time so you can check your coat, find your seat, buy a drink, silence your cell phone, and have time to glance through the program book. Most concerts start on time.

Of note, we encourage you to arrive extra early – such as 30 minutes in advance – for Our Common World featuring Yo-Yo Ma, on May 24 and May 25, 2025, as these concerts will have large audiences.

If you’re late, you may be able to listen from the lobby during the start of the concert.  If that happens, the ushers will allow you inside during a suitable pause in the program, so your arrival won’t disturb other concertgoers.

Palace Series concerts are typically about 2 hours and include a 20 minute intermission.  The Small Space concerts are typically 75 minutes and may have an intermission. Check the concert webpages on this website for concert specifics.

Yes please! Use your cell phone to take pictures and post them on your social media networks! You are among our best publicity! However please silence your phones and refrain from taking any pictures or video during the actual performance. Cameras and recording devices can be distracting to performers and your fellow audience members.

Many people get confused about when to clap during a work of music.

For example, a Beethoven concerto or a Tchaikovsky symphony have separate movements or sections (think chapters in a book). After each movement, there is usually a short pause, and it has become the norm, to not clap at these little breaks and save all the clapping for the end (have your program book open and handy to follow the movements). However, there are times when the audience cannot contain themselves especially after a fantastic soloist who just dazzled us with their artistry for a whole movement, then we just all clap! So the short answer is don’t worry too much about it. Hint – watch the conductor between movements—if his arms are still in position and not relaxed, chances are there is more music coming your way.

It’s a short rest period for the musicians and conductor; they’ll need a break to re-charge their batteries for the second half! It’s also a nice break for you to use the facilities, enjoy a drink or a snack at the lobby concession.

For Palace Series concerts, Orchestra Lumos Donors of $1,500 or more typically have exclusive access to the Luminary Lounge in the Founder’s Room during intermission on Saturdays and Sundays for wine and light refreshments.

Kids and students ages 4-22 are welcome to the Palace Series Sunday afternoon concerts for FREE with an accompanying paid adult ticket.  (Unfortunately for Toy Story in Concert and Our Common World featuring Yo-Yo Ma, free children’s tickets are not available.)  You know your child best – concerts can be as long as 2 hours which can be a long time for them to sit through a concert. We ask that you be mindful of the audience around you and should you need to leave the hall for a bit, you are welcome to do so.

There are many resources.  Here are a few of our favorite fun and interesting sites that won’t make you feel like you are studying back in college:

www.wshu.org – go to hear live stream of their classical music shows and various interviews

www.classicfm.com – so much to explore! Live stream their music shows, learn about composers, get a list of the best classical music for beginners and more!

www.npr.org/music/genres/classical/ – a veritable resource of all things classical! They even have a podcast called Classical Classroom that is hosted by Dacia Clay, a music librarian at Houston public media. She is not a music academic and is learning right there with you podcast to podcast. Great for newbies! Click here to get to the podcasts: www.npr.org/podcasts/495471150/classical-classroom

shows.pippa.io/thatclassicalpodcast – Speaking of podcasts, these two British twenty-somethings hosts will have you howling and learning a thing or two on their irreverent podcast called That Classical Podcast.

Subscribers:  Subscribers enjoy many benefits, including locking-in their seats for the full season, and the ability to exchange concert dates if needed (subject to availability of other seats).

Non-subscribers:  For non-subscribers, if you need to make seat changes, please call us, and if other seats are available we will do our best to accommodate.  Of course, there may price differences for seats in different sections.  We cannot do exchanges, or change the name on a ticket once it has been issued.

Yes, the Palace Theatre has seating for patrons with accessibility needs, including access for wheelchairs or electric wheelchairs. These seats are accessible by ramps or elevators, and do not require climbing steps. When purchasing tickets, please call our office and tell us if you need these seats. The theatre can also accommodate patrons with requirements related to impaired hearing, sign language, service animals and curbside drop-off.  Please contact the theatre in advance if you require these types of support.   Most Small Space venues are similarly accessible – please call us to confirm.  This link has more information about the Palace Theatre accessibility options:  https://www.palacestamford.org/plan-your-visit/accessibility-1

The Landmark Square parking garage across from the Palace Theatre also has parking spots for people with accessibility needs.  Be sure to inform the attendant of your needs.