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Presented by Farmers & Merchant Bank, the season promises to spark wonder and stir the imagination with performances tailored to young minds.

Pacific Symphony’s Family Musical Mornings series presented by Farmers & Merchants Bank is designed to introduce young people to the wonder of symphonic music through fun storytelling adventures for the whole family to enjoy. The 2026-27 season features a return of friends like Leopold the Leopard to host Symphony Spooktacular (costumes welcome!) and the dazzling American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School dancers for the annually sold-out Nutcracker for Kids. Scores from Pixar accompany favorite moments from the films and the classic story of The Little Prince is told as an opera-for-kids that’s out of this world.

Family Musical Mornings concerts take place at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. Each program includes two performances, the first taking place at 10 a.m. and the second beginning at 11:30 a.m. on select Saturdays. Themed activities including hands-on games, coloring stations, and festive photo opportunities for kids and families also take place in the lobby before or after the performance (starting at 9 a.m. for 10 a.m. concertgoers, and at 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers).

“With Family Musical Mornings, our hope is to instill a love of orchestral music in the hearts and minds of young listeners and their families through fun, interactive performances that put story at the center and keep children entertained with a mix of activity such as puppets, dancers, film, and of course, beloved music,” says Ameena Khawaja, vice president of education and community engagement for Pacific Symphony. “What’s more, each concert in our series has an educational benefit, as children practice listening skills, build emotional awareness, learn the instruments and how to be part of an audience. We’re thrilled to create lasting memories and bring the magic of live performance to families in Orange County and beyond.”

2026-27 Family Musical Mornings Concerts

A Symphony Spooktacular featuring Leopold the Leopard kicks off the family series on Saturday, October 24, with a delightful mix of fun, fright and fantasy. The comedic puppet and his creator, LA-based puppeteer Victor Yerrid, guide the audience through playful and spooky orchestral favorites that capture the magic and imagination of the season. Family members of all ages are invited to dress in costume and enjoy the Halloween-themed activities in the lobby.

On December 5, families are invited to join Clara on her journey to the Land of Sweets in The Nutcracker for Kids, a narrated adaption of Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet. With dancers from the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School, led by artistic director Susan Brooker, this performance promises to hold audience members captive from the overture to the finale. Set against one of the most famous and festive scores ever written, attendees follow along as Clara encounters the Mouse King, the Nutcracker and the infamous Sugar Plum Fairy. Be sure to don your fanciest attire and grab your tickets early for this sure-to-sell-out performance! This concert also includes an additional VIP experience to have breakfast with Santa at the Silver Trumpet restaurant at Avenue of the Arts Hotel, with gingerbread cookie decorating and a photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

For Pixar in Concert on March 20, 2027, Pacific Symphony performs the music of Oscar® and Grammy®-winning composers from the beloved family films. Past programs have featured score highlights from Randy Newman’s “Toy Story,” “Monsters Inc.,” “Monsters University” and “Cars,” Michael Giacchino’s “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up,” “Inside Out,” and “Coco,” and Thomas Newman’s “Finding Nemo,” “Finding Dory,” and “WALL-E.” With full-scale cinematic visuals projected above the orchestra stage, this performance is one Disney and Pixar fans of all ages won’t want to miss.

A special presentation of The Little Prince: Opera for Kids! rounds out the Family Musical Morning season on May 22, 2027. The beloved story, The Little Prince by Antione de Saint Exupéry, becomes an operatic adventure like no other. Audience members become part of the story joining the Little Prince and his pilot friend as they learn important life lessons about friendship and caring, while meeting marvelous characters along the way like a wise fox, a proud rose and other colorful creatures.

Subscriptions for all four concerts are available now with pricing from $65-$199. Single tickets go on sale August 16. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 714-755-5799 or visit pacificsymphony.org/subscribe.

About Pacific Symphony
|The 2026-27 season marks the 48th anniversary for Pacific Symphony and the inaugural season for Alexander Shelley, who becomes the orchestra’s third artistic leader with the title of Artistic and Music Director. The Symphony is ranked among the top orchestras in the U.S. by the League of American Orchestras and is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the past 50 years. Founded in 1978, the Symphony was led for 35 years by Carl St.Clair, who was honored with the title of Music Director Laureate in the 2025-26 season.

With a purpose to lift the human spirit through the power of music, the Symphony is a cornerstone of the cultural landscape of Southern California, enriching lives and bringing communities together through creative and diverse programming. As the resident orchestra of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Symphony presents more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages.

Pacific Symphony features an expansive range of programming through the Classical Series, the beloved Pops Series led by Principal Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, SummerFest at the Great Park Live Amphitheater in Irvine, and engaging Family Musical Mornings concerts for young children and their families. Signature cultural concerts for Lunar New Year and Nowruz are joyful musical celebrations that promote understanding and appreciation of the arts from around the world—a priority for Pacific Symphony, which is dedicated to the power of music to unite and inspire. The Symphony in the Cities program brings free outdoor concerts and interactive musical activities to cities across Orange County, making live symphonic music accessible to all.

Pacific Symphony’s education and community engagement programs have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, expanding access to orchestral music and fostering a lifelong connection to the arts. Musicians partner with elementary schools to enhance music education programs through the Frieda Belinfante Class Act program. Arts-X-press is a summer arts immersion program for middle school students, and Heartstrings provides free tickets to the Symphony, music instruction, and customized music and wellness programs in partnership with local schools, nonprofits, and social service agencies.

Pacific Symphony also nurtures the next generation of musicians through its renowned youth ensembles, including the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Youth Wind Ensemble, Santiago Strings, and Youth Concert Band. These groups have toured internationally, earned prestigious awards, and provided young artists with opportunities to excel.

By combining artistic excellence with a commitment to education and accessibility, Pacific Symphony continues to enrich lives, foster new talent, and create meaningful connections throughout Southern California. Its innovative programs ensure music remains a vital part of the community’s cultural fabric.

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