All attendees (Kindergarten and up) must wear a mask when entering and attending a VSO concert or open rehearsal.

Elementary and Secondary-School Students are not required to show proof of vaccination for the school programs Elementary School Concerts, Symphonic Encounters and Connects Open Rehearsals.

All adults must present proof of vaccination along with their government-issued photo ID. Both Digital and Paper copies of the BC Vaccine Card are accepted. To receive a copy of your BC Vaccine Card or for more information about proof of vaccination please click here.

We will book no more than 50% of available seats per event, spread throughout the hall, with spacing between groups. (Symphonic Encounters is capped at 400). Vancouver Civic Theatres has increased cleaning protocols at the Orpheum Theatre to include sanitizing all touchpoints before a performance. Hand sanitizer will be available at entrances and in lobby spaces.

All tickets are $10.00 for education & community groups. For all other pricing please contact education@vancouversymphony.ca.

The ArtStarts Cherniavsky’s Mr. Music Fund offers grants to schools to assist in purchasing student tickets to classical music concerts and open rehearsals.  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the final deadline is December 10, 2021. For more information, visit https://artstarts.com/cherniavsky

There are several ways to register for a Symphonic Encounters open rehearsal:

Order online (credit card only)
Download the order form online and mail (credit card or cheque payment)
Complete the order form (mailed to schools in September) and mail it with your deposit or full payment

Mailing address: Education, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra,  500-833 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 0G4
Telephone reservations will not be accepted.

Symphonic Encounters is an open rehearsal series, which means that attendees quietly observe the orchestra preparing for a regular season concert. Our suggested age range for this program is from grade 6 up to adults. Please contact the Education Assistant if you require any further advice on this matter.

We cannot guarantee that all of the listed repertoire will be rehearsed during the open rehearsal.

Programme notes are available online three weeks in advance of each rehearsal date. There are no programmes available on the day of the rehearsal.

All rehearsals are held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Vancouver. Please use the Smithe Street entrance of the building upon arrival.

Doors open 30 minutes before the listed rehearsal time and we request that everyone be seated inside the auditorium 10 minutes before the rehearsal begins. Late comers will not be seated until an appropriate break in the rehearsal.

Approximately 2.5 hours. There are usually two pieces rehearsed per session, each one for about 1 hour with a 20-minute break in the middle.

Full payment is required no later than 2 weeks before the rehearsal. You have the option of paying in full at the time of your registration or sending a non-refundable deposit to hold your preferred date with the balance to arrive 2 weeks prior to the rehearsal.

All seating is in the balcony of the Orpheum Theatre and is assigned on a FIRST PAID IN FULL – BEST SEATING basis. Sending a deposit will hold the date for you and we will assign your seats upon receiving your complete payment.

We have a No Questions Asked refund policy in place this season. Cancellations received at least 2 weeks prior to performances are fully refundable. Unless ordered by public health, cancellations received within 2 weeks of the performance are subject to a 10% fee. Should restrictions limit attendance, we will do our best to find comparable dates and seats or transfer your tickets to the 22/23 season.

Sorry, no cameras, video or tape recorders are permitted in the hall.

If you have a question that is not answered here, please call the Vancouver Symphony’s Education Department at 604.684.9100 or contact us by email at education@vancouversymphony.ca.