OPEN REHEARSAL

High School Orchestras and Bands and College Students/Professors 

FWSO Open Rehearsals offer students and teachers a unique perspective of the creative dynamic between orchestra and conductor. As the musicians repeat passages or focus on a particular movement, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at how a performance transforms from a work in progress to a work of art. The open rehearsal will be for the first half of rehearsal which lasts about 1hr-1.5hr. A 15 minute Q&A with a musician will follow the rehearsal before schools are dismissed. Teacher and Student IDs will be needed to attend. 

*Please note that soloists or special artists will not be at the rehearsals. 

Cost: FREE (registration closes 2 weeks before the event)

Location: Bass Performance Hall

Performance Dates

Brahms and Haydn, Together: Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Copland, Dvořák, and Rachmaninoff: Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. 
Mahler's Sixth: Thursday, January 28, 2027 at 10:00 a.m.  
Ravel and a World Premier: Thursday, May 13, 2027 at 10:00 a.m.  

Registration:

All requests are processed in the order in which they are received, and we will try to accommodate as many requests as possible based on availability. Once processed you will receive a confirmation e-mail within four weeks of your request.

Please Note: Registration will be first come, first served basis beginning August 3rd. If the date you have chosen is full, we will reach out with other dates available.

If you have any questions, email education@fwsymphony.org or call 817-665-6500 ext.104.

Education Program Policies

• Reservations are first come, first served. If the date you have chosen is full, we will reach out with other dates available or keep you in the waitlist. 

• CANCELLATIONS: Please let us know if you will not attend AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, so other schools can get the opportunity to attend in your place. This should be done at least 4 weeks from the date of the concert or as soon as you know.

• We do not issue tickets: Please request any additional seats in advance; we will not be able to accommodate extra students or chaperones on the day of the event. Your group will be seated as you arrive. 

• Rehearsal Order/Length: Rehearsal order is determined by the conductor and is subject to change at any time. The open rehearsal will be for the first half which lasts about 1hr-1.5hr. A 15 minute Q&A with a musician will follow the rehearsal before schools are dismissed.

•Open Rehearsal Etiquette: Please treat the open rehearsal the same way you would a performance. During the rehearsal students and chaperones/teachers should remain seated, phones should be silenced or turned off, and no photos/videos.

1 to 10 Student/Teacher Ratio: We recommend 1 chaperone/teacher per 10 students. Adults are in charge of their students at all times. 

• Parents and Chaperones: For security reasons please contact FWSO with the names of parents and/or chaperones who will not ride the bus and will arrive separately. This applies for homeschool groups- all adult names are needed. 

• Name Tags: For security reasons, all teachers/chaperones must wear a school ID or nametag to enter the Hall. Teachers may wear their engraved school IDs. 

• Accessible Seating: it is essential we are informed well in advance about all accessible seating requests. 

• Schools must order and confirm buses: Schools are responsible for ordering buses and CONFIRMING they have been ordered for their field trip. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is not responsible for coordinating or providing buses for your school.

• Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, we will contact you that morning if we have to cancel your performance. If the performance has not been canceled, please contact us if your school is closed or delayed. We will attempt to reschedule your group.

•  Please note that the education open rehearsals are open to High School orchestras and bands, as well as home school groups serious about orchestral music that are of High School Age. College students and music teachers at any level affilliated with a school can attend as well (a student/teacher ID will be required for this level). 

Home School Groups

• All group members, including the students, should have a nametag so they are easily identified with as part of your group. 

• Please assign a meeting spot outside of the venue to wait for all group members. Everyone will be seated as a group.

• Send the names of all adults attending in advance. The venues we work with require this for security reasons. 

If you have any questions, email education@fwsymphony.org or call 817-665-6500 ext.104.