Once Upon an Orchestra ~ The Strings

Name: Once Upon an Orchestra ~ The Strings
Start: 2026-03-14T11:00:00-04:00
Location: Vero Beach Museum of Art

Schedule

Sat, 14 Mar, 2026 at 11:00 am

UTC-04:00

Location

Vero Beach Museum of Art | Vero Beach, FL

The story of The Princess and the Pea shimmers to life as your Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents another enchanting installment of Once Upon an Orchestra, in partnership with the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Designed especially for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, this 45-minute musical story time features members of the string family — violin, viola, and cello — in an intimate string quartet setting.
Based on the beloved fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, The Princess and the Pea follows a mysterious young traveler who arrives at a royal castle on a stormy night, claiming to be a true princess. In this imaginative retelling, narrator Aaron Collins guides young listeners through the tale while the string quartet brings each scene to life with music — from rumbling storms to royal celebrations. Distinct musical themes help reveal characters and settings, allowing children to hear how music can tell a story without words.
But the magic doesn’t end there.
Following the classic tale, audiences will experience a short, interactive sequel — A Royal Goodnight — where the newly crowned princess discovers that even in the quiet of a grand castle tower, nighttime can feel full of mysterious sounds. With the help of the children in the audience, the castle comes alive through playful, imaginative sound effects as young listeners become part of the storytelling adventure themselves. Together, they help the princess discover that sometimes the bravest thing a royal heart can do is simply take a deep breath and rest.
After the performance, families are invited to stay for a special instrument petting zoo, where children can see, touch, and even try members of the string family for themselves. It’s a joyful, hands-on opportunity to explore how these beautiful instruments make their sound — and perhaps spark the beginning of a lifelong love of music.
Enchanting, interactive, and welcoming, Once Upon an Orchestra invites your little princes and princesses to step inside the story — where music, imagination, and fairy-tale wonder await.