SAN FRANCISCO, CA —The San Francisco Symphony’s (SFS) 2018–19 Music for Families series kicks off Saturday, December 1 with Superheroes and Villains . Conducting excerpts from Black Panther , Superman , The Avengers , The Magic Flute , and Die Walküre , Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads the SFS in an exploration of history’s most heroic music—from classics of operatic and orchestral repertoire to contemporary Hollywood hits. The afternoon’s program includes soprano Ann Mosssinging Mozart’s earth-shattering “Queen of the Night” aria and “I Have Confidence” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music . Black Panther percussionist and two-time Grammy Award-winner Magatte Sow joins to demonstrate the West African talking drum before performing a suite of music from the film with the Orchestra. Tied together with an engaging script presented by Bartholomew-Poyser, the program also includes bite-sized selections from Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo , Star Wars , and more. Guests are invited to arrive early—in costume—to enjoy interactive lobby activities. The Symphony will also supply free superhero capes (emblazoned with ‘S’ for Symphony!) to all concertgoers.

The 2018–19 Music for Families season continues Saturday, February 2 with Music Around the World: Influences of Africa , when guest conductor Joseph Young and vocalist Clairdee explore the jazz and classical palettes of African and African American music. Guests are invited to dress up as their favorite storybook character on March 9 , when Resident Conductor Christian Reif leads the SFS in Once Upon an Orchestra , a program of fairytale music from classic ballets and plays like Beauty and the Beast , Swan Lake , Cinderella , and Mother Goose . The Music for Families season concludes on April 13 with Music, Magic, Mystery , when Reif conducts the SFS and “mystery instruments” in music from Harry Potter , Stravinsky’s The Firebird , and other musical myths and magical stories.

Before each concert, families receive an online activity guide to inspire musical discovery at home, both before and after the live concert. Beginning one hour before each performance, guests are invited to explore the hands-on activities scattered around Davies Symphony Hall lobbies, including instrument petting zoos, where families can get an up-close look at the instruments they see on stage; a conductor photo station where children can strike a pose as the maestro of the Symphony; piano mats where families can compose their own tunes by hopping from one key to the next; and coloring stations where children can unleash their inner artist with music-themed drawings.

This popular series for Bay Area families was launched in 1993 and is designed to introduce children and their parents to the wonders of live orchestral music. Part performance and part family outing, the series consists of matinee concerts designed to spark the imagination of the whole family through an exploration of different aspects of the orchestra and its repertoire. Music for Families concerts are geared to ages 5 and up. Tickets for children age 17 and under are half-price.

Music for Families concerts are designed to be educational, engaging, and fun. They include performances of great symphonic music, fascinating musical discoveries, and informative talks about the orchestra, the instruments, the musicians, and the music. Ticket-buyers receive an online activity guide and music links a few days prior to the concert. These materials help families prepare for the concerts and provide opportunities for continued music engagement at home.

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser is the Artist in Residence and Community Ambassador of Symphony Nova Scotia. He has served as Assistant Conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Associate Conductor of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. This season Bartholomew-Poyser will debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

Joseph Young recently served as the Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he conducted more than 50 concerts each season. In recent years, Young has made appearances with the Saint Louis Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Bamberger Symphoniker, New World Symphony Orchestra, and Spoleto Festival Orchestra.

German conductor Christian Reif joined the San Francisco Symphony as Resident Conductor and Wattis Foundation Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO) in the 16–17 season. Highlights of his 18 –19 season include debuts with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic. Other recent performances include a debut with Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, where he led the International Contemporary Ensemble in John Adams’s Grand Pianola Music , and concerts with the Orchestre National de Lyon, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Lake Area Music, and Indianapolis and Berkeley symphonies.

All concerts take place at Davies Symphony Hall, located at 201 Van Ness Ave in San Francisco.

Tickets: $27–$64 (Adults); Tickets for children age 17 and under are half-price. Appropriate for ages 5 and up.

Tickets are available at sfsymphony.org , (415) 864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, located on Grove Street between Franklin and Van Ness.

Lobby Activities: Families are invited to participate in a variety of musical activities, including instrument petting zoos, a conductor photo station, musical piano mats, coloring stations, chances to meet and mingle with the SF Symphony musicians, and more! Come early to collect stamps for your musical passport. Ticket holders receive free online materials to enhance musical discovery at home.