Once you arrive, you may have additional questions. Can I use my phone, when do I clap or how do I get a drink? Great questions. Here are the answers...
Can I check my coat?
Until further notice, the coat room at the Green Music Center is closed.
Can I wear perfume or cologne?
Many patrons have expressed to us they are allergic or have sensitivities to fragrance. Out of consideration for your concert neighbors, please refrain from wearing fragrance of any kind to all Santa Rosa Symphony performances and rehearsals.
Learn about the music at the Concert Conversations
Enhance your concert experience with our relaxed and informative pre-concert talk held in Weill Hall one hour prior to all Classical Series Concerts. Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong, guest conductors and guest artists will help you gain a deeper understanding of the music in the concert conversations, which conclude with Q & A. These 30-minute discussions are free to all ticket holders.
Concert Conversations are Saturdays and Mondays at 6:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Not available for Discovery Rehearsals.
Can I bring my kids?
Attending the symphony as a family is a great way to spend time together, but since live music is appreciated in a quiet environment and Classical Series Concerts tend to be too long for young children, we recommend attending the Family Series Concerts. Family Series Concerts are approximately one hour in length and are appropriate for ages 4 and up. We offer three family concerts each season. They are on Sundays at 3:00 PM and include an Instrument Petting Zoo beginning at 2 PM in the lobby. Family concerts take place at Weill Hall at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University.
Classical Series Concerts and Discovery Series rehearsals are for ages 7 and up. No one under the age of 7 will be allowed in.
Family Series Concerts are appropriate for ages all ages.
Youth Ensemble Concerts (education) are appropriate for all ages.
Children exhibiting unruly behavior at any of the Symphony’s performances will be asked to leave.
Q. If I bring my infant to a concert, do I need a ticket for him/her?
Infants are not allowed at Classical Series concerts or Discovery Series rehearsals. Infants may attend Family Series Concerts and Youth Ensemble Concerts. All patrons regardless of age, need a ticket to enter.
Q. If I bring my child and have him/her sit on my lap, do I still need a ticket for him/her?
Yes, all patrons, regardless of age, need a ticket to enter. Please call Patron Services for assistance. (707) 546-8742
Selfies are encouraged but phones on silent
We want you to have fun with your phones while at the concert. You can take selfies, post to social media or check in on Facebook prior to, during intermission and after the concert. During the performance we kindly ask that all cell phones, pagers, watches and other electronic devices be put on silent mode out of consideration for the performers and other patrons in your area.
Sorry, no recording devices allowed
Cameras, as well as other recording devices, can create major distractions for the conductor, musicians and audience members around you. As a result, no still, video cameras or tape recorders of any kind are permitted. If you are seen with a recording device, it will be confiscated for the duration of the concert.
Pre-order your drink
Attendance at Symphony concerts can be in excess of 1,000 people and intermission is 20 minutes. We recommend pre-ordering your intermission drinks before the concert. To do this, when you arrive, simply go to the concessions area, place your order and pay. At intermission, your drinks will be waiting for you on the left-side of the concessions area.
When to clap
The audience will applaud to welcome the Concert Master and then the Conductor when he/she walks out onto the stage.
In most works performed at SRS, a movement is a large division of a larger composition or musical form. For example, symphonies are typically divided into four movements and concertos into three. It is appropriate to clap after the final movement of an entire work. If you're still not sure, you can always wait for the rest of the audience to clap before applauding. Another good sign is when the conductor either turns around or steps off the podium (the elevated "box" he or she stands on).
What if I have to leave the hall during the performance?
We understand that you may have to leave the hall during the concert for a variety of reasons. We ask, when you do, to exit as quietly as possible. There are ushers at each door, and they are available to assist you in any way. You may have to wait for a piece to end before you can return to your seat. There is no admittance into the hall while the orchestra is performing. For your convenience, you can listen to the concert in the lobby, on the second-floor Choral Circle waiting area or in Prelude restaurant.
What if I have to cough?
In an effort to help reduce distracting noises and enhance the concert-going experience, Weill Hall provides complimentary cough suppressant drops to patrons, subject to availability. Please visit the coat check in the right-hand corner of the lobby (close to concessions).
Can I smoke?
The Green Music Center is located on the campus of Sonoma State University. The University has a strict NO SMOKING policy. That includes cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and any other substances.
I lost my hat
Lost & Found items are held at the coat check until after the concert. Items are recorded by the GMC House Manager and are usually available for pick-up the next business day from the Seawolf Service Center, located on the ground floor of Salazar Hall in the center of campus. If you are seeking lost items, please call the Seawolf Service Center directly at (707) 664-2308.
Can I buy tickets for a Green Music Center event?
Santa Rosa Symphony and Green Music Center are two different and separate organizations. We each have our own databases and systems that are not linked or compatible. For this reason, the Symphony does not sell Green Music Center tickets and they do not sell ours. If you would like to purchase tickets for a Green Music Center event, please visit their website.
If you would like to purchase tickets to a Symphony concert, please visit our ticketing page or call Patron Services at (707) 546-8742. Click here for Patron Services hours.
I still have a question
When at the concert, if you have a question, please visit us at the Box Office (first building on the right) or in the lobby at the Service Desk. The Service Desk is located to the near the lobby staircase.
Please feel free to contact Patron Services with your questions. For more information, please visit Before the Concert.
Telephone: (707) 546-8742
Email: Click here
In person, Symphony adminstrative and Patron Services office: 50 Santa Rosa Ave, 1st Floor, Santa Rosa CA 95404
Hours: M,T,TH,F: 9 AM - 5 PM and W: 10:30 AM - 5 PM. We are closed Saturdays and Sundays.
Banner photo by Colin Talcroft