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Carnival of the Animals

An imaginative journey through music and animals with whimsical narration and vibrant orchestral sound.

Matthew Makeever, conductor

In collaboration with Montana Ballet

Saturday, February 20, 2027 // 10:30 am & 1 pm // Willson Auditorium

Free admission — tickets required.

Reserve Your Free Tickets Here

Check out our “Community Concert Social Story” to learn more about what to expect at the performance!

The Bozeman Symphony’s free Community Concerts introduce audiences of all ages to the joy of live orchestral music. Created especially for families, these engaging performances inspire curiosity, spark imagination, and nurture a lifelong love of music in a welcoming, interactive setting.

Presented twice each season, the Community Concerts regularly fill the house, welcoming more than 2,000 audience members to experience the excitement of a live symphony orchestra. Designed with children 5-12 in mind but enjoyed by music lovers of every generation, each concert blends captivating music with storytelling, visuals, and audience participation to create an unforgettable experience.

Recent Community Concerts have brought favorite stories and unforgettable artists to the stage, including Wild Symphony by Dan Brown, Peter and the Wolf narrated by Academy Award-nominated actress Glenn Close and Montana Shakespeare in the Parks’ Kevin Asselin, and performances featuring internationally acclaimed violinist and songwriter Kishi Bashi.

Logo for Eckrohth Music with a stylized trumpet inside a circle, with the tagline "Its All About the Rhythm!" and the words "Eckrohth Music Employee Owned".

Instrument Petting Zoo

Before each concert, young music lovers are invited to our Instrument Petting Zoo— a hands-on opportunity to explore the world of symphonic instruments. Children can see, touch, and try real orchestral instruments with help from our expert “zookeepers,” learning how they work and discovering which one they might want to play someday.

Instrument Petting Zoo Times: 9:30 - 10:15 am // 11:30 am - 12:45 pm // 2:00 - 2:30 pm

Program

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Le Nozze di Figaro Overture

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in C minor

I. Allegro con brio

JOHANNES BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3 in F major

III. Poco allegretto

JOSEPH HAYDN: Symphony No. 94 in G major “Surprise”

III. Andante

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: Carnival of the Animals

I. Introduction and Royal March of the Lion

II. Hens and Roosters

III. Wild Donkeys - Fleet Animals

IV. Tortoises

V. The Elephant

VI. Kangaroos

VII. Aquarium

VIII. People with Long Ears

IX. Cuckoo in the Depth of the Woods

X. Aviary

XI. Pianists

XII. Fossils

XIII. The Swan

XIV. Finale

Sponsors

The Dovana Foundation, Beethoven’s Circle

Bob & Donna Ritchie, Beethoven’s Circle

Bruce & Kimberlie Jodar, Conductor’s Circle

Arne & Steffi Siegel Endowment of the Montana Community Foundation, Concertmaster’s Circle

A young girl with a blue sweater smiling and holding a saxophone, talking to another person with a saxophone in a crowded room filled with people and musical instruments.
A young girl with long blonde hair sitting on a chair, playing a cello with a bow in her hand, in a room with stackable chairs in the background.
A young boy in a blue checkered shirt playing a shiny brass tuba, with a woman and other children watching and smiling in a lively indoor setting.
A young boy playing a xylophone at a table with a blue tablecloth, surrounded by adults and children.
Young girl with curly hair playing a trumpet at an indoor event, with people gathered around.
A young boy playing a cello while talking to a man in a room with large windows and a table covered with a blue tablecloth.
Two young children playing recorders at a table during a music event, with an audience of various ages observing and smiling.
A music instructor kneeling on the floor demonstrating how to play the recorder to a group of children. The children are watching and listening attentively inside a classroom or music room.
A group of children watching a man playing a violin at an indoor event, with a violin held by one of the children.
A young man with long hair wearing a black suit playing a violin in a classroom or workshop setting, with a girl in a white sweater playing a violin in the foreground. A sign with rules for a musical activity is on the table.
An audience of children and adults sitting in a theater or auditorium, paying attention, with some raising hands.
Large orchestra performing on stage in a concert hall with musicians playing string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, guided by a conductor.