Saturday 14 September 2019Iwaki Auditorium

MSO Relaxed, Sensory-Friendly Performance Chamber Concert

Pianos and Percussion

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Welcome!This visual story is designed especially for you, the audience of the MSO’s relaxed, sensory-friendly Chamber Concert at Iwaki Auditorium. It is intended as an engaging way of introducing you and the people you will accompany to the kinds of things you’ll experience when you join us at the performance.

You will see a specially curated program presented by four musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. They will guide you through their performance of the great Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story arranged for two pianos and two percussion players.

This performance will take place in a safe and relaxed environment in the Iwaki Auditorium, with various elements adapted to reduce the possibility of anxiety and discomfort. You can expect:

• Friendly MSO staff on hand to support you throughout your visit

• A sensory-familiarisation at the start of the concert exploring introducing you to the sensory stimuli you can expect during the concert

• A relaxed attitude to noise and movement during the performance

• An “open door” policy – doors to the auditorium remaining open throughout the performance so you can come and go as you please

• Lighting and sound levels adjusted to soften potential impact

• Designated “chill out” spaces located outside the auditorium – alternative spaces to use if the performance becomes overwhelming

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Please note that there may be an announcement just before the show asking for mobile devices to be switched off and advising that photography and filming of any kind is not permitted. If you need to use a specific electronic device such as an iPad to assist with communication or your enjoyment of the show, just inform the usher as you enter the auditorium.

If you have any questions for us in the lead up to your visit, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable MSO Box Office staff who, if you wish, will also happily assist you with facilitating a more detailed conversation about the performance and the ways in which we can support your visit.

Phone: (03) 9929 9600, 9am–6pm, Monday to Friday

Email: boxoffice@mso.com.au

In person: Hamer Hall

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Chamber Musicians in IWAKI Here is a picture of a chamber ensemble on stage in the Iwaki Auditorium.

The Iwaki Auditorium is MSO’s home rehearsal and studio space located in the ABC Building on Southbank Boulevard.

Have you ever been to see a performance of classical music? What do you remember about the performance?

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MSO Box Office / FOH StaffWhen you arrive at the Iwaki Auditorium, you will be met by MSO’s friendly staff who will orientate you and can help with information including where the toilets are, where your chill-out quiet zone is located and when you can enter the auditorium. The staff will be wearing black uniforms.

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Downstairs seating in IwakiTo see the performance, we will sit inside the auditorium. If you use a wheelchair, there will be a space for you to park your wheelchair next to the other chairs.

The lights above our seats will stay on which means we will still be able to see what we are doing. We can also sing along or move around if we like. The auditorium doors will stay open so we can come and go from our seats if we need a break from the performance.

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These are the MSO musicians performing in the concert. Robert Cossom and John Arcaro are percussionists. Robert is also a composer and he has helped to adapt Bernstein’s music for today’s performance. Leigh Harrold and Louisa Breen play the piano.

Rob Cossom

Leigh Harrold

John Arcaro

Louisa Breen

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During the PerformanceThe show will start at 11am and will finish at 11:50am. That means it will go for about 50 minutes which is just a bit less than 1 hour. If we need to take a break from the performance, a chill out, quiet zone is available for our use in the Iwaki foyer.

What are some other activities you do that take about an hour?

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Final Experience At the end of the performance, we can clap our hands to say “thank you” to the musicians for their performance.