Q. What should I wear?

A. There is no dress code. Usually anything that makes you feel comfortable is fine. Many people will wear business clothes or slightly dressy casual clothes, but you'll see everything from khakis with a nice shirt to dresses and suits. Some people enjoy dressing up and making a special night of it, and you can, too. Still, wearing evening gowns and tuxedos by the audience members is pretty rare.

Q. When should I arrive?

A. Regular season concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. Plan to arrive 20 to 25 minutes before concert the concert begins so you can find parking, find your seat, and have time to look through the program book. Most concertgoers make a point of coming early to attend the pre-concert discussions (see below), read the program notes, or just watch the orchestra warm up. If you arrive late, you will be seated by a MSO usher during the next break in the performance.

Q. How long will the concert be?

A. It varies with the music selection, but most orchestra concerts are about 90 minutes long, usually with an intermission at the halfway point. Very often there will be several pieces on the concert; but occasionally there is one single work played straight through. It's a good idea to take a look at the program before the concert to get an idea of what to expect.

Q. When should I clap?

A. Generally, it is considered proper concert etiquette to clap only after a piece is complete. This means that if you're listening to a piece with three movements, it is appropriate to clap after the last movement. The program lists how many movements a particular piece has. Usually, there is a 15- to 30-second pause in between movements. If you're still not sure, 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.

Continue >>