You enjoy yourself! Our conductor Mark Russell Smith has chosen some timeless music to captivate your imagination. To help you make the most of your experience here are some answers to common questions people have about their first symphony experience.

There is no dress code here at the QCSO, wear whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. If you want to just relax and enjoy the music no one will mind you coming in jeans. If you feel like dressing up and making the symphony part of a special night you are more than welcome to do that as well. Most people will be wearing business clothes or slightly dressy casual clothes for Saturday evening performances; the Sunday afternoon matinee is often more casual.

QCSO concerts are a family affair and we welcome people all ages. However, many younger children find it hard to sit quietly for extended periods of time and it is a courtesy to others to not bring children who may be a disruption and we leave it up to the judgement of parents to decide what age they think is best for their children for a first concert.

Because parking at both the Adler Theatre and Centennial Hall fills up quickly we recommend that you plan to arrive at least a half an hour early. This will aid in finding parking as well as give you time to settle in your seat and glance over the program notes.

Many pieces of classical music are integral parts of popular culture, including some that you will be hearing at the QCSO. Phrases of classical music are often quoted in more modern forms of music. Most of the music used to highlight emotions in films is a direct decedent of classical music, and songs such as Beethoven’s 5th and Pachelbel’s’ Canon are ingrained in the minds of many.

Only if you want to. You can come in knowing nothing about what the concert is about and let the music speak for itself. You can study the program notes before the concert starts to get some background on the music and let the context help you understand the moods of the symphony. On the webpage for each concert we often have links to videos of performances that other groups have done that you can listen to before you come to the symphony so you know what you want to listen for. There’s no right or wrong way to appreciate great music, choose what works for you.

It is standard etiquette to wait until the end of the piece to clap and to leave silence between the movements (subdivisions) of pieces. You can follow along with the program to know when each movement ends, wait until the conductor turns around to face the audience, or just wait until everyone else is clapping.

Concert hall doors open an hour prior to the performance for Concert Conversations. If you don’t plan to sit in on the Conversations, plan to arrive 20 minutes before the performance time, so you can find your seat, turn off your cell phone, and have time to glance through the program book. If you need to purchase a ticket, you will probably want to allow more time as the line often gets long near the start time for the performance.

It varies, but most of our Masterworks performances are about 90 minutes to two hours long, with a 15 to 20-minute intermission at the halfway point. Drinks and snacks are for sale in the lobby before the Saturday night performances and during intermission. Refreshments are not permitted in the concert hall.

Join QCSO Music Director Mark Russell Smith in an exploration of the Masterworks programs on the Thursday evening preceding each Masterworks weekend as he brings you inside the lives of the composers and the life of the music itself. These events are free to the public and open to experts and novices alike. Inside the Music is hosted at the Hotel Blackhawk. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with snacks and cash bar provided.

Concert Conversations is hosted by Kai Swanson an hour before each performance in the concert hall and usually includes a visit from Music Director Mark Russell Smith and the featured guest artists.

As a courtesy to performers and audience members, latecomers arriving after the concertmaster has entered the stage will not be seated until an appropriate interval in the performance. Generally, this will be during breaks between pieces or symphony movements.

The QCSO Box Office is located at 327 Brady Street in Davenport and is available to help you in person on Tuesday & Thursday from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, by phone Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. You can contact the Box Office by phone at 563-322-QCSO (7276).

The Box Office will be open at all events 90 minutes prior to the publicized start time.