27 Apr 2026 CSO presents a free family concert: ‘Sebastian Bear Joins the Orchestra’

The Conway Symphony Orchestra will present a free concert for children and their families at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the Windgate Center Concert Hall on the UCA campus. 

“Sebastian Bear Joins the Orchestra,” narrated by CSO Music Director Israel Getzov, is the fourth in a series geared to children 3 to 8 years old, though it will be appreciated by all ages. The original music was written by CSO Composer-in-Residence Paul Dickinson.

The CSO Guild invites the audience to join Maestro Izzy on a forest adventure as John Sebastian Bear sets out to find the instrument that is “just right” for him.

“These family concerts have become a joyful tradition for us, because they let children see the orchestra as something welcoming and alive,” says Maestro Izzy Getzov. “Sharing a brand‑new story and piece of music with Conway families is one of the most important things we do all season.”  The musical program is approximately 20 minutes long and includes time for questions and answers with Maestro Izzy and the musicians. 

Following the concert, families are invited to join in craft activities with the CSO Guild and an Instrument Petting Zoo with CSO musicians in the Windgate Center lobby. “Offering crafts after the concert allows the children opportunities to use their imaginations and their creativity to make tangible souvenirs from the concert,” Jan Adcock said. 

“This performance will be the first of this series to be given in the main Concert Hall of the Windgate Center at UCA,” said Suzanne Loerch, general manager of CSO. “We discovered we had outgrown the Faulkner County library’s cozy venue but knew we wanted to continue our partnership with the library, so, we’re bringing the library with us to Windgate!” 

Along with the crafts and instrument zoo, the Faulkner County Library Youth Services will host a book display with a free book for kids to take home. Adcock said, “We are thrilled to present this interactive experience combining instruments of the orchestra and children’s literature.” 

No tickets are required for the event. Seating in the main concert hall will be first-come, first-served. The Windgate Center is located at the corner of Bruce St. and Donaghey Ave. on the UCA campus, 2150 Bruce Street. Parking lot access is on Donaghey Ave. 

For additional information, go to the CSO website at conwaysymphony.org or the CSO Facebook pagefacebook.com/conwaysymphony.