Very Young People’s Concerts

Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville: March 3, 2027

Clayton Center for the Performing Arts in Maryville: March 4, 2027

Imaginative program created for students enrolled in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade

45-minute concert packed with age-appropriate educational content

Narration and exciting visual elements, including video projections, props, costumes, and more!

Participating schools will receive a Teacher’s Guide for student preparation prior to attending the performance

Available to all public schools, private schools, and homeschool co-ops across East Tennessee

Participating schools are eligible to request a visit from our “Meet the Musicians” program. CLICK HERE for more information.

Join the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for a reimagination of Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. This performance will help students to explore the orchestra through a brand-new narrative created in collaboration with KSO’s Poet-in-Residence Rhea Carmon. Blending music, poetry, and imagination, this engaging concert offers a new perspective on the orchestra while inspiring curiosity and a lifelong appreciation for symphonic music.

Tennessee Academic Standards and Fine Arts Education Standards addressed by the concert

The Very Young People’s Concerts are eligible for the Student Ticket Subsidy (STS) Program: The STS grant program provides funds for tickets and transportation for students from Tennessee public schools to experience a broad variety of cultural opportunities, arts disciplines, and artists.

You must register in the Tennessee Arts Commission Online Grants System before you can submit a grant. Registration may take between 1-7 days to be approved. Please register prior to any grant opening or deadline to avoid missing a potential funding opportunity. For more information, visit the Tennessee Arts Commission Online Grants System.

– Schools can request up to $3,000

– Allocated by county and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

– eGrant application for Student Ticket Subsidy opens Wednesday, August 12,2026 at 8:00am CT – register in the new Online Grants System

– Prior to August 12, 2026 – complete YPC/VYPC reservation form to receive a confirmation number by email. This confirmation number will be noted on your grant application. You must complete your reservation BEFORE submitting your grant application.

– Applications must be received 30 days prior to the concert date (Funds for Knox County are usually depleted within a few days.  It is recommended that you apply on August 12, 8:00 AM.)

– Funds are distributed directly to schools from the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC). Schools should submit payment to KSO upon receiving funds from TAC.

For step-by-step instructions on how to complete STS application for Knox County Schools: Information for STS eGrant YPC FY27

For more information about the Very Young People’s Concerts, please contact Erin Gonzalez, Education and Community Partnerships Coordinator at [email protected].