FAQs

What should I wear?

Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. It is tradition for the musicians of an orchestra wear formal attire for concerts. Flagstaff audiences dress from casual to elegant and all feel welcome.

Can I applaud?

Audiences will applaud when an artist such as the concertmaster, the conductor, or a soloist walks on stage, and after each piece. Some pieces consist of three to four shorter sections called movements. Standard concert etiquette encourages audience members to not clap between movements.

Why does the conductor shake the hand of the violinist before the concert begins?

The conductor is acknowledging the concertmaster, who is the leader of the violins and a vital part of the orchestra leadership. Our concertmaster is Louise Scott.

Why do parts of the orchestra leave sometimes?

Some pieces aren’t written for the entire orchestra, so those musicians who aren’t needed leave to take a break and prepare for their next piece.

When can I come and go?

As a courtesy to the orchestra and other audience members, come and go only in between pieces, not movements. Enter and exit as quietly as possible. Hint: Wait for the clapping.

What is a movement?

How do I know when the piece is over? Movements are the parts of a piece, which is the whole. Between movements, there is silence as the orchestra prepares for the next movement. The number of movements in a piece varies; movements are listed in the program along with information about the composer and the soloists.

What is the role of the conductor?

The conductor is the visual focal point for the entire orchestra. He must be intimately involved with the music and hear the whole sound. The conductor cues musicians and adjusts the tempo and dynamics to make the piece sound as brilliant as possible.

May I bring my cell phone to a concert?

You may bring your cell phone, but be sure to turn it off before the performance. This goes for pagers, electronic watches, and any other noisemaking devices. Texting is also prohibited, as it will be distracting and disruptive to those around you.

May I bring the kids?

Children are welcome, we love having the opportunity to expose children to classical music. Please be considerate of the orchestra and others around you and take children out of the auditorium if they are disruptive. Children under 6 years of age are perhaps not ready to attend concerts.

How long is a typical performance?

A typical performance usually lasts around two hours and includes a brief intermission. You’ll know intermission is over when you hear an announcement alerting you to return to your seat.

May I take pictures?

No photography or video is permitted inside the auditorium.

How can I learn about the music before the concert?

Visit our special concert pages, follow us on social media, spend some time researching the program on the web, and arrive early and read the program notes.

Venue Information

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra performs its indoor season in Ardrey Memorial Auditorium which is a 1,330 seat venue on the campus of Northern Arizona University. The FSO’s summer season is at the Pepsi Amphitheater.

View the Adrey Memorial Auditorium venue seating chart for Flagstaff Symphony concerts. Seating is designated by sections: Grand Circle (1) and Price 2–6 More info  Seating for those with accessible needs is available on the main level in rows F and X and in the balcony in row D.

Parking

Free parking is available in the large surface lot behind Ardrey Memorial Auditorium on Friday concert nights. The NAU designation for this lot is P13 and it is located along West Riordan Road.

Paid parking is available in the Knoles Garage at the corner of West Riordan Road and Knoles Drive. Parking attendants will be standing at the entrance, with the gate open, so that you may quickly enter and park. On your way in you will get an exit ticket. This exit ticket is how you will pay to exit the lot. The parking garage fee is $2 per hour.

Pre-paid Parking exit tickets may be purchased in advance for $5 at the NAU Parking and Shuttle Services in the Centennial building, on NAU campus, at the corner of Dupont Avenue and Beaver Street (credit/debit cards only).

ADA accessible parking is available in surface lots P13 and P16A (across Knoles Drive from the entrance of Ardrey Memorial Auditorium) and in the Knoles Garage.

NAU Parking Office: 928.523.6623 | www.nau.edu/parking

Summer Concerts: For summer concerts, check the Pepsi Amphitheater website for information.