The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance’s field trip programs and in-school performances offer the perfect blend of engaging performances and curriculum-connected themes. Impactful in-school performances give your students a chance to see professional artists up close, ask questions, and sometimes even participate in the action! Concert opportunities with DPAA introduce students to the wondrous sounds of a live orchestra, professional singers, and the athletic art of ballet, while also relating music to students’ personal experiences and classroom curricula. We create our standards-based programs with specific age ranges in mind so that we can cater to their developmental and learning needs.
Book Your ProgramEducators & Community
Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program pairs orchestras with students specifically in grades 3–5 and provides the opportunity to learn about, listen to, and perform great music. Students participating in Link Up explore an interactive curriculum in which they learn to sing and play an instrument in the classroom before performing with the orchestra from their seats at a culminating concert. Teachers may choose from one of three program paths: Basic, Basic+, or Advanced, depending on the level of involvement they would like to have for their students.
By participating as a DPAA Link Up School Partner, YOUR SCHOOL WILL RECEIVE:
- Link Up resources for students
- Link Up curriculum guide and resources for each teacher including repertoire for singing, playing the soprano recorder or violin, reading, notating music, composing, improvising, lesson plans,
and activities. Accompanying audio and video resources - Access to Carnegie Hall’s online resources and webinars, including additional lessons and interactive classroom resources
- One mandatory professional development training session for participating teachers, lead teachers, and administrators provided by DPAA Learning and Community Engagement Artistic Leadership Team on either:
- Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10am – Noon
- Saturday, January 24, 2026, 10am – Noon
Preschool & Early Elementary
Programs for our youngest audience members celebrate their curiosity and encourage them to move and explore the arts. We know how important it is to make a good impression on little learners, so we’ve established programs with their development in mind. Discover the programming below that introduces your students to the ballet, opera, and philharmonic in a fun, engaging setting, while also meeting Ohio Learning Standards in both the arts and academic content areas.
Ballet Stories in Motion – Colorful Emotions in Motion
An interactive in-school program, led by the dancers of Dayton Ballet Studio Company that uses movement, storytelling, and music to help students explore emotions and self-expression. Through the language of ballet, students will learn to convey emotions while exploring color and feelings, fostering emotional intelligence, creativity and a love of the arts. This program is recommended for pre-K through 3rd grade.
Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Science, Movement, Dance, Music
Requirements: A performance area of 20 x 24 feet is required—preferably a stage or carpeted area.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $500 per performance
Brass Quintet: Who is the Brass Family?
Lively music, an entertaining introduction to the instruments in the Brass Quintet, and a little science too! This program is recommended for grades K–8.
Curriculum connections: Science, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Philharmonic Trio: Wee 3
A string bass, a trumpet, and percussion! What could these instruments possibly have in common? Find out as the DPO Trio explores likenesses, differences, and teamwork. This program is recommended for pre-K through 2nd grade.
Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Social-Emotional Skills, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Philharmonic Trio: American Vignettes
American Vignettes was composed especially for the DPO Trio by Cincinnati composer Joe Price. From New Orleans to the Wild West, this lively presentation takes your students on a musical journey across the U.S. This program is recommended for grades 1–4.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
String Quartet: The Great Dinosaur Escape
Four dinosaurs learn how to use their individual gifts and talents to help each other. This program is recommended for pre-K through 2nd grade.
Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Science, Social-Emotional Skills, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 35 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
String Quartet: Anansi and The Sky Kingdom
In this folk tale from West Africa, Anansi and his friends achieve seemingly impossible tasks with teamwork and ingenuity. This program is recommended for pre-K through 2nd grade.
Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Geography, Social-Emotional Skills, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 35 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
String Quartet: The Three Billy Goats Gruff
A familiar story with a few original surprises! Join us as we learn how a simple act of kindness can make a big difference. This program is recommended for pre-K through 2nd grade.
Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Social-Emotional Skills, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 35 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
String Quintet: Science of String Sound
Who is in the string family, and how do string instruments work? How many ways can string instruments produce a sound? Discover the answers to these questions as the String Quintet performs a wide variety of musical styles. This program is recommended for grades 1–6.
Curriculum connections: Science, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Woodwind Quintet: Woodwind Discovery
Why is the flute in a woodwind quintet if it’s made of metal? Isn’t the French horn a brass instrument? The Woodwind Quintet shares how each of their instruments can be so different yet blend together to make a unique sound. This program is recommended for grades K–5.
Curriculum connections: Science, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Field Trip Program – Magic Carpet Concerts: Hansel & Gretel
Dayton Masonic Center
February 24, 25 & 26
February 24, 2026, at 10am
February 24, 2026, at 11:30am
February 25, 2026, at 10am
February 25, 2026, at 11:30am
February 26, 2026, at 10am
February 26, 2026, at 11:30am
Introduce children to the magic of opera with “Hansel and Gretel,” a special concert featuring Humperdinck’s vibrant score. This performance, created specifically for young audiences, blends the orchestral music of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the artistry of the Dayton Opera Artists-in-Residence with narration and singing. Join Hansel and Gretel as they navigate a magical forest, encountering a delectable gingerbread house and triumphantly defeating a wicked witch in this engaging adaptation of the classic fairy tale. This field trip is recommended for pre-K through 3rd grade.
Run time: 45 minutes
Cost: $7 per seat
Intermediate
As students enter mid- to upper-elementary grades, their brains strive to make connections between subject areas. They want to deepen their understanding of all kinds of subjects and our in-school programming does just that. Our programming gives students a window into how the arts connect with other subjects and the world around them. Read below to learn more about each of the programs that can encourage your students to see the arts through a new lens.
Who Wants To Be A Dancer?
Experience dance differently. Who Wants to be a Dancer? is an interactive, fun, and engaging game show format that allows students to explore the world of dance through balletic movements, vocabulary, audience participation, question-answers, and mini-performance variations led and presented by Dayton Ballet professional and Studio Company dancers. This program is recommended for grades 3–8. Program availability is limited.
Curriculum connections: Movement, Dance, Music
Requirements: A performance area of 20 x 24 feet is required—preferably a stage or carpeted area.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $500 per performance
Children's Traveling Opera (CTO) featuring Dayton Opera Artists-in-Residence
Children’s Traveling Opera (CTO) features Dayton Opera Artists-in-Residence. Experience this entertaining and engaging program that provides students with the opportunity to participate in their own production of The Pirates of Penzance. This program is recommended for grades 3–6.
Requirements:
- The presenters will arrive 30-40 minutes prior to the program and will need access to the performance space on arrival.
- Tech needs for presenters:
- Load-in door close to the performance area, accessible to roll cart/equipment
- Space to change and access to restroom for adults only
- 3 students to assist with unloading and loading
- Microphone on a stand
- Access to a nearby power outlet
- Room temperature bottled water for five
- 20 folding chairs for students that will be in the cast. 10 chairs will be on each side of the stage
- A table to set props on
*The performance uses foam swords. Please let us know in advance if that is not allowed at your school.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Brass Quintet: Who is the Brass Family?
Lively music, an entertaining introduction to the instruments in the Brass Quintet, and a little science too! This program is recommended for grades K–8.
Curriculum connections: Science, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Brass Quintet: Music Around the World
Language, dress, and customs all combine to define a culture, but what is missing? Music, of course! Take a musical journey and discover the unique characteristics of music from around the world. This program is recommended for grades 3–8.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Philharmonic Trio: American Vignettes
American Vignettes was composed especially for the DPO Trio by Cincinnati composer Joe Price. From New Orleans to the Wild West, this lively presentation takes your students on a musical journey across the U.S. This program is recommended for grades 1–4.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Philharmonic Trio: Music and Culture
After a speedy trip around the world to discover how music reflects the culture of its people, your students will arrive in an American classroom to meet the Creatures in Room 642 by Cincinnati composer Frank Proto. Here they will learn how music not only describes a culture but also reveals the individuals in it! This program is recommended for grades 4–8.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
String Quintet: Science of String Sound
Who is in the string family, and how do string instruments work? How many ways can string instruments produce a sound? Discover the answers to these questions as the String Quintet performs a wide variety of musical styles. This program is recommended for grades 1–6.
Curriculum connections: Science, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
String Quintet: Music for Dance
Music must be organized, especially when it involves dance! Students will learn how form, patterns, and rhythm combine to create characteristic dance styles from around the world. This program is recommended for grades 3–8.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Dance, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
String Quintet: Tour of Europe
Test your students’ map reading skills. The quintet will play music from various European countries and enlist volunteers from the audience to help them build a map of Europe. This program is recommended for grades 3–8.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Woodwind Quintet: Woodwind Discovery
Why is the flute in a woodwind quintet if it’s made of metal? Isn’t the French horn a brass instrument? The Woodwind Quintet shares how each of their instruments can be so different yet blend together to make a unique sound. This program is recommended for grades K–5.
Curriculum connections: Science, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Woodwind Quintet: Musical Explorers
Follow musical cues from Europe to the Far East to South America and Africa to discover the unique musical sounds of countries around the world. This program will reinforce your students’ listening and map reading skills. This program is recommended for grades 4–8.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Orchestra and You
This hands-on, audiovisual introduction to the symphony orchestra is a perfect preparation for attending a live orchestra performance. Presented by the EnCorps Friends of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. This program is recommended for grades 2–3.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: FREE with the purchase of any in-school program. Limited availability.
Secondary
Students in middle- and high-school are exploring and shaping their future goals and identities, and the arts can challenge their ideas and give them new avenues of self-expression. Read below to find out more about the programs we offer for older students.
Choir Sectionals and Clinics
Dayton Opera Artists-in-Residence visit your classroom to lead rehearsals, sectionals, masterclasses, or to perform for your students. This program is for grades 6–12.
Cost: Inquire for pricing
Brass Quintet: Journey Through Jazz!
Explore the history, style, and influences of jazz music with the Brass Quintet. This program is recommended for grades 6–12.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, English Language Arts, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Philharmonic Trio: Music and Culture
After a speedy trip around the world to discover how music reflects the culture of its people, your students will arrive in an American classroom to meet the Creatures in Room 642 by Cincinnati composer Frank Proto. Here they will learn how music not only describes a culture but also reveals the individuals in it! This program is recommended for grades 4–8.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Woodwind Quintet: The Art of Music – Multimedia
This multimedia presentation pairs music with paintings, architecture, and sculpture. Learn how the visual arts and music are connected by choosing one of the following engaging programs: Art & Arpeggios, Brushes & Beats, and Fascinating Female Artists. This program is recommended for grades 4–12.
Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Visual Art, Music
Requirements: A projector, screen, and computer are required for this program.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Woodwind Quintet: Musical Explorers
Follow musical cues from Europe to the Far East to South America and Africa to discover the unique musical sounds of countries around the world. This program will reinforce your students’ listening and map reading skills. This program is recommended for grades 4–8.
Curriculum connections: Social Studies, Music
Requirements: Please provide the musicians with sturdy, straight-back, armless, adult-size chairs, and music stands. Please allow at least 6-8 feet between the first row of students and artists. Programs should take place in a clean, well-lit 20 x 20 foot or larger space such as a cafeteria, auditorium, or gymnasium.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $350 per performance
Instrument Sectionals, Clinics, and OMEA Coaching
Professional musicians from the Dayton Philharmonic visit your band or orchestra classroom to lead sectionals, clinics, OMEA coaching, masterclasses, or to perform for your students. Instrument clinics were created to meet the requests of band and orchestra directors. We offer an unparalleled opportunity for your band and orchestra students to work side-by-side with our professional musicians. We offer string, brass, and woodwind clinics, and clinics can be tailored to your needs. This program is for grades 6–12.
Curriculum connections: Music
Duration: 45 minutes
Cost: Inquire for pricing
All Ages
Who Wants to be an Opera Star?
Who Wants to be an Opera Star? is an introduction to the art form of opera through the framework of a television game show. The performance runs as a series of questions and competitions, with four singers in the roles of MC and contestants. Studio audience members (the students) will learn about voice types, arias, duets, props and costumes, and a dash of opera history. While cheering on the contestants, students will learn Italian words associated with opera, and participate by identifying emotions and clapping rhythms in musical selections taken from some of the world’s favorite operas.
Requirements: Load-in and load-out assistance. A microphone on a stand and a nearby power outlet. Dressing room and restroom space for adults only. Room temperature bottled water for five.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $500 per performance
Interactive Opera: March to the Beat
Limited program availability February–March 2026
Embark on an interactive journey of musical discovery with Dayton Opera’s Artist-in-Residence in March to the Beat. Through an engaging exploration of opera and musical theater, students will experience how music connects to powerful emotions, drives dramatic storytelling, and empowers the human voice. They will discover the elements of drama, learn how to express themselves through song, and experience the exhilarating capacity of music to inspire and change. From the refrains of “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro” in The Barber of Seville’s famous “Largo al factotum” to Carmen’s Habanera to “Something’s Coming” West Side Story and “How Far I’ll Go” Moana our journey of self-discovery culminates with “This is Me” The Greatest Showman.
Requirements: Load-in and load-out assistance. A microphone on a stand and a nearby power outlet. Dressing room and restroom space for adults only. Room temperature bottled water for five.
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $500 per performance
Field Trip Program – Young People's Concert I A Kaleidoscope of Sight and Sound: The Symphony of Self
Schuster Center
November 5
November 5, 2025, at 10am
November 5, 2025, at 11:30am
“A Kaleidoscope of Sight and Sound: The Symphony of Self” offers an enchanting exploration of music and movement for your students. This captivating concert reveals how diverse instruments, expressive voices, and the visual narrative of ballet intertwine to reflect our world’s richness.
Our thoughtfully curated program illuminates themes of resilience and the vital role of the arts in fostering self-discovery and connection. Enjoy the spirited interplay and dance of our Dayton Ballet School Ensemble with the vocal charm of our Opera Artists-in-Residence in a lively musical theatre piece. Then, witness the exceptional talent of the 2025 Concerto Competition Winner performing captivating movements from a dynamic concerto.
Optional Concert Preview Volunteers from the EnCorps Friends of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance visit your school to present a free, engaging, video-based learning extension prior to the field trip. The preview introduces the instruments, composers, and includes fun concert trivia.
Curriculum connections: English Language Arts, Social Studies, Music, Dance
Run-time: 45–50 minutes
Cost: $7 per seat
Field Trip Program – The Nutcracker – Act I
Schuster Center
December 17, 2025 at 10am
Nutcracker – Celebrate the holidays with your students and experience Act 1 of Dayton’s cherished Nutcracker production. Witness the magic of Clara’s Christmas adventure, brought to life by the dancers of Dayton Ballet and local students, along with the Dayton Philharmonic’s live performance of Tchaikovsky’s score, making this a truly festive experience.
Cost: $7 per seat
Field Trip Program – Magic Carpet Concerts: Hansel & Gretel Sensory-Friendly Performance
Dayton Masonic Center
February 24, 2026, at 11:30am
For all schools, families, homeschool groups, and centers that have individuals with neurodiverse conditions including autism, sensory sensitivities, or other social, learning, or cognitive atypicality. This special one-act performance features a live orchestra and omits loud sounds and jarring effects.
What makes these performances sensory-friendly? Our sensory-friendly performances feature a supportive, judgment-free environment with relaxed theater rules. Adaptations to our sensory-friendly performances include the following:
- Dimmed house lights (30% brightness during the entire performance)
- Lower sound levels
- Elimination of startling special effects and lighting
- Relaxed theater rules—freedom to get up, move around, and come and go as you desire
- Designated quiet area
- Trained and informed dancers, staff, ushers, and other volunteers to ensure a memorable experience for you and your family
Run-time: 45 minutes
Cost: $7 per seat
Field Trip Program – Young People's Concert II Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute Link Up: The Orchestra Swings
Schuster Center
April 28
Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 10am
Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 11:30am
One of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s longest-standing traditions! These concerts allow students to hear the exciting sounds of a full orchestra in the acoustically perfect Schuster Center. Students also learn how music connects to many areas of their classroom curriculum.
“Swing” is many things. It’s a distinctive rhythmic feel; a musical era dominated by big band jazz; a style of dance that grew alongside the music; and that elusive but unmistakable feeling that results when musicians are deeply tuned into each other and playing in sync, or “in the pocket.” Though swing music is characteristic in a jazz ensemble, an orchestra can also swing. Through the Link Up repertoire, hands-on activities, and a culminating interactive performance, students will explore the elements that contribute to that magical moment when musicians start to swing. This program is recommended for grades 3–12.
Teachers may choose from one of three program paths, Basic, Basic+, or Advanced, depending on the level of involvement they would like to have for their students. Includes student materials, one teacher guide, and concert music. Student Halo Recorders are available to order at a discounted rate through Peripole.
Run-time: 45–50 minutes
Cost: $7 per seat