The Missouri State Symphony Orchestra and Burrell Behavioral Health (BBH) will present a Sensory Safe Concert 3:30-5:00 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.
The “Free to be Yourself” concert provides a “safe place for people of all backgrounds to connect,” said Dr. Yi-Ping Chen, orchestra director and assistant professor in the Department of Music.
Chen hosted sensory-friendly concerts prior to joining Missouri State. “I thought MSU students and the community could benefit from this experience as well,” she said. “I approached Burrell last fall (2024) and they said yes right away.”
Chen and BBH decided to host another fall concert this year because the 2024 concert was so successful.
“We would love to make it an annual event in the future,” Chen said.
Symphonic classics encourage freedom “to be yourself”
Under the concert theme “Free to be Yourself,” the orchestra will perform standard classical symphonic selections like Grainger’s “Irish Tune from County Derry.” This piece was chosen “because Grainer only found freedom to be himself in his music,” Chen said.
Other selections include Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio Espagnol,” Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2,” second movement and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 4,” final movement.
Sensory toys and quiet spaces will be available during the concert. “We are grateful for the generosity of MSU’s Project ACCESS and the Burrell Autism Center for donating sensory toys that will be given out at the concert,” Chen said.
The Sensory Safe concert reflects Missouri State’s community outreach mission, she added. The concert provides a place for everyone to feel free to be themselves.
“When my students and I can see the audience’s smiles and the carefree movements, we know our music moved their body and heart.”
Photo provided by Yi-Ping Chen.