Schooltime @ Heinz Hall

Led by Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce

For generations, teachers have brought their students to Heinz Hall to experience live orchestral music. This season, Schooltime unites music with reading, inviting classrooms to discover how orchestral music brings some of literature's best-loved stories to life. Each unit features a PSO concert and curriculum-aligned classroom resources created by our Learning & Engagement team.

Students visiting Heinz Hall for a Schooltime concert

What to Expect

Schooltime is free for all schools with registration.

See what a Schooltime day at Heinz Hall looks like.

All Are Welcome!

Every Schooltime concert includes sensory, hearing, and mobility accommodations.

ASL interpretation will be provided on the dates below. ASL is available on additional dates by request; please contact Savanna Webber at swebber@pittsburghsymphony.org.

Once Upon a Book: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Romeo & Juliet: Thursday, January 21, 2027
Myths & Legends: Friday, March 12, 2027
Meet the Orchestra: Wednesday, May 5, 2027
PPS Day - Meet the Orchestra: Thursday, May 6, 2027

Plan Your Schooltime Visit

For teachers

Schooltime Bus Funding

Funding for roundtrip bus transportation is now available for eligible Pennsylvania schools. Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to request funding.

Learn More

For teachers

Tips for a Great Concert Experience

Make the concert hall a place for everyone! Use these tips to help your students focus, enjoy and engage with the music during your Schooltime concert.

Learn More

2026–27 Schooltime Concerts

Once Upon a Book

Grades K–2 November 18 & 19, 2026 | 10:30 a.m. Grace Lin, narrator

How can music help tell a story? In Grace Lin and Kate Messner's beautiful book Once Upon a Book, a young girl escapes the winter doldrums by immersing herself in stories set in faraway places. Award-winning author and illustrator Grace Lin joins the PSO on stage to read Once Upon a Book, with illustrations projected above the stage and full orchestral accompaniment. Magical adventures come to life through the combined power of music and storytelling in this vibrant performance.

Registration deadline: October 30, 2026

Students taking a group photo in a Heinz Hall mirror during a Schooltime visit

Romeo and Juliet

Grades 7–12 January 20 & 21, 2027 | 10:30 a.m.

How do artistic choices influence our understanding of a story? William Shakespeare and Sergei Prokofiev are just two of the many artists who have taken on the telling of Romeo and Juliet. Take a deep dive into one of literature's most influential stories as we explore Shakespeare's and Prokofiev's creative decisions. Music and spoken word combine in this exciting look at a classic tale.

Content Advisory: The story of Romeo and Juliet includes instances of violent conflict and mature themes.

Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64. Music by Sergei Prokofiev, Libretto by Sergei Radlov, Adrian Piotrovsky, Leonid Lavrovsky and Sergei Prokofiev. Presented under license from G. Schirmer, Inc., copyright owners.

Registration deadline: January 5, 2027

Students in Heinz Hall for a Schooltime concert

Myths & Legends

Grades 4–6 March 9, 10 & 12, 2027 | 10:30 a.m.

Why have myths endured? Across time, people around the globe have used storytelling to make sense of the world around them. In this dynamic performance, the PSO explores myths and legends through a wide range of orchestral music. From origin stories to cautionary tales, join this musical globetrot to better understand the role myths play in teaching us about ourselves and our place in the world.

Registration deadline: February 19, 2027

Students in the Heinz Hall lobby during a Schooltime visit

Meet the Orchestra

Grades 2–4 April 29 & 30, May 4, 5, 6 & 7, 2027 | 10:30 a.m. May 6 is reserved for PPS schools only.

How do instruments make sound? Explore how sound is created as you build the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra! Meet the instrument families of the orchestra, learn how each instrument produces sound, hear how those sounds work together to make music, and discover what role the conductor plays in bringing orchestral music to life.

Registration deadline: April 9, 2027

Important Schooltime Policies

Weapons are not permitted in Heinz Hall or public spaces surrounding the building.
All bags will be searched upon entry.
All adults must wear a PSO-issued nametag or school-issued ID to enter Heinz Hall. This includes teachers, staff, bus drivers, parents, and all other chaperones. PSO nametags will be sent in your registration packet one month before the concert.
Outside food and beverages, including water bottles, are not permitted. Exceptions will be made for medical reasons.
Photography without flash is permitted during the concert. Recordings of any kind are strictly prohibited.
Groups are not permitted to take photos while entering or exiting Heinz Hall.
Schooltime concerts are for children ages 5 and up.