EMSO has a special relationship with senior care communities and proudly presents small ensemble concerts and full orchestra concerts to audiences around the East Metro area. These concerts are always free and are open to all when the senior residences allow visiting from the general public.
Many of the seniors in these communities are unable to attend larger community concerts due to health, mobility, or transportation issues. EMSO’s Symphonies for Seniors offer residents the opportunity to share in the joy of live orchestra music in the comfort of a space they find familiar and accessible.
For the 2025-2026 concert season, EMSO is pleased to present many small ensemble groups for our senior residency audiences. The East Metro Chamber Ensemble will be performing at many of these concerts. Led by EMSO’s concertmaster Aja Majkrzak, the ensemble includes 4-12 string players at each Sunday afternoon performance. Other groups include a brass quartet, and small groups featuring clarinet, flute, harp, bass and guitar also perform on occasion for these concerts.
EMSO is thrilled to present full orchestra concerts at some senior living communities where space can accommodate a large gathering of 50 or more performers. The Symphonies for Seniors program began with these larger concerts and EMSO is pleased to be able to continue to offer these performance opportunities to select communities around the East Metro.
Our orchestra is full of talented musicians who are happy to share their love of music with senior communities.
**East Metro Symphony Orchestra will have limited availability for Symphonies for Seniors concert opportunities during 2026-2027 Concert Season because of limited funding. If your senior care center is interested in learning more about future Symphonies for Seniors options, contact EMSO’s Communications Director at admin@emsorch.org.**
For more information please contact EMSO’s Communications Director at admin@emsorch.org.
Praise for EMSO’s Symphonies for Seniors concerts:
“When you bring an excellent classical music program here to our residents, it improves their overall quality of life beyond just having a good music performance…It communicates to our residents that there is still sublime beauty in their world and that they (and music) are worth the effort. Your unique program with EMSO helps our residents get carried away from their health concerns, aches and pains, and loneliness for the time you are
playing. It is near impossible to think of anything troublesome when you are surrounded by an orchestra.”
- Renee V., Director of Life Enrichment and Volunteer Services, Stonecrest Senior Living in Woodbury
“The love for music is a shared interest in this community! EMSO kept the residents engaged and one resident was conducting the music from her chair! She wrote and composed numerous Christian songs! This brought so much joy to her. The performance was so wonderful it had the residents asking for “One More SONG”!!! Artis is an all-memory care community and the residents talking about the concert the next day is a big deal! Artis appreciates the volunteers that help bring joy to our residents.”
- Amber Magnuson, Life Enrichment Director, Artis Senior Living of Woodbury
2025-2026 Symphonies for Seniors Small Ensemble Concert Schedule:
Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM – Artis Senior Living of Woodbury
Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM – White Pine Senior Living
Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM – Carondelet Village
Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM – The Lakes at Stillwater (The Lodge)
Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM – Oak Meadows Senior Living
Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM – Artis Senior Living of Woodbury
Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM – White Pine Senior Living
Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM – Carondelet Village
2025-2026 Symphonies for Seniors Orchestra Concert Schedule:
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM – Boutwells Landing
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM – St. Therese of Woodbury
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM – The Lakes at Stillwater (The Lodge)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM – St. Therese of Woodbury