This all-ages, sensory-friendly performance, featuring conductor Jaap van Zweden and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, celebrates the connection between autism and music, both of which exist on a vast spectrum. Featuring music from Strauss, Bernstein, John Williams and others, the program invites you to explore how sound shapes emotions, thoughts, and interactions. Much like neurodiversity, music reminds us that there is no single way to experience the world — we hope this concert will inspire you to feel, imagine and connect with music in your own unique way.
Inspired by his son, Benjamin, who learned to communicate with the aid of music, van Zweden started the Papageno Foundation, which offers arts and music therapy projects for children and young adults with autism and presents programs where everyone can participate. Learn more about the foundation here.
How is this event sensory-friendly?
- House lights are a little brighter
- Accessible seating (including general admission) and amenities available
- Moving around, entry and exit to the theater, and noise are not restricted
- Trained volunteers, ushers, and staff are here to help provide a quality experience for audience
- Designated quiet areas in the hall for audience member use
- Safe, non-judgmental atmosphere for families
- Pre-visit materials for attendees are provided to prepare for the concert, inclusive of a social story & printed concert guide.
Tickets are available for purchase at https://bit.ly/AccessToMusic-CSO.
