First time attending a concert? We’re so glad you’re here.

At our concerts, everyone is welcome.

We are passionate about growing our audience and making sure everyone knows what to expect at our events so they will have a positive concert experience. Since you’re reading this page, we hope this means you’ll be joining us for an upcoming performance! Accessibility is important to us, and we understand that as a newcomer, attending a classical music concert can be intimidating. We’ve compiled a list of common questions below in an effort to be as inviting and transparent as possible.

Have a question that’s not answered here? We’re here for you. Reach out to us on Facebook or Instagram, or send us an email at monarch.chamber.players@gmail.com.

  • We are a classical music ensemble that performs public and private concerts in indoor, outdoor, casual, and traditional settings.

    What does this mean?

    The majority of our events are open to the public and donation-based. We are passionate about taking classical music into accessible community spaces, which means we perform in a vast array of settings. You can find us performing on front porches, in schools, retirement homes, arts festivals, farmers markets, urban farms, and more. All of the events listed on our events page are public.

    We perform in both casual and traditional settings. Casual concerts are typically outdoors, and we encourage informal attire, food and drink during the performance, and pets. The vibe is low-key, fun, and welcoming. You’ll catch us performing in sunglasses and comfortable attire. We encourage all newcomers to attend our casual concerts for an introduction to classical music!

    Our traditional concerts take place in more formal venues, such as churches, recital halls, and museums, and events may be ticketed. We recommend dressier attire, and typically, food, drink, and non-service animals are not allowed. The vibe is focused but welcoming - accessibility is key for us at all times.

    Regarding seating, audience members are expected to provide their own seating for outdoor events, such as blankets or camping chairs.

  • The majority of our events are free to the public, with donations accepted on site to support our performing artists and educational initiatives. When an event is ticketed, information will be provided in advance on our events page here.

  • Accessibility is a priority for us, and we are passionate about using music to build a strong sense of community. We value getting to know our audience members and providing a more personalized concert experience.

    We start each concert with an introduction of who will be performing and what we will be playing. Throughout the concert, our performing artists will speak about each piece on the program before it is performed. You can expect to hear a combination of standard and contemporary classical music, in addition to arrangements of popular tunes.

    Our goal is for you to learn something new and enjoy the music and camaraderie that our events provide. We also love to meet our audience members! Come chat with us afterward and share your thoughts and questions.

  • Concerts typically last one hour, with talking points given between each piece on the program.

  • We recommend arriving ten to fifteen minutes in advance of any concert’s start time so you have plenty of time to find a seat and settle in. Many of our audience members enjoy arriving early for outdoor concerts so they can converse with one another and stake out seats before the concert begins.

    Running late? Don’t sweat it. At our casual concerts, you are welcome to walk up at any time and join in the fun. For more traditional concerts, we recommend waiting until there is clapping or a long pause between the music to enter quietly. Unsure? Come on in - we prioritize your presence over concert etiquette.

  • Please dress in what you feel most comfortable in, regardless if it is casual or dressy. More than anything, we value your presence and want you to be comfortable when you join us for a concert. Dress in a way that works for you, and rest assured you will see a variety of attire at our events.

    If you would like more guidance, we suggest opting for casual wear for all of our outdoor events and dressier attire for events that take place at churches, museums, or recital halls. We also encourage festive holiday wear for our holiday concerts - you can expect to see us in Halloween costumes and Santa hats!

  • Clapping traditionally takes place at the end of a musical work, when the musicians take a bow. Each concert typically includes three to six complete musical works.

    But wait! How do I know the work is over? We get it. This can be confusing because many musical works have what are called “movements,” or short selections within the larger work. Musicians take short pauses between movements per the composer’s request, and it is easy to clap when this happens.

    Most importantly, we are glad you are with us and we don’t expect you to know when to clap. If you clap between movements, we are glad you are enjoying the music and you’ll put a smile on our faces! We consider it our responsibility to be your concert guide, so we’ll announce from the stage whether the next piece has movements, and if so, how many you can expect to hear. You can also watch us for helpful clues when the music reaches a pause. If we turn to face the audience and take a bow, it’s time to clap!