The Power of Pause
When life is nonstop, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and disconnected. What if you could step away, even for a little while, and immerse yourself in something deeply nourishing?
At the New Bedford Symphony, we offer more than music. We offer an escape—a chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the beauty that surrounds us.
Here, harmony isn’t just in the notes; it’s in the way it revives your spirit and renews your perspective.
Echoes From Our Audience:
Put Down That Remote
In a world filled with endless ways to tune out, numb the noise, and turn down the stress, why choose a symphony concert?
Because it’s more than just a concert—it’s a chance to trade “couch coma” for something truly restorative.
No practice, no learning curve. Just take your seat, let the music carry you, and feel the shift.
Ready for a Reset?
There’s a magic in the natural beauty of New Bedford—the sway of seagrass, the crash of waves, the cry of the seagull above the fishing boats.
These natural rhythms inspire a sense of calm and renewal—a feeling mirrored by orchestral music, with its interplay of melodies and rich textures.
Like the dynamic forces of nature, live symphonic music brings both energy and restoration, leaving us refreshed and more deeply connected to ourselves and others.
We hope you’ll join us at the NBSO to tap into the transformative power of music.
—David Prentiss, President and CEO
NEW BEDFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
What’s Coming Up Next:
Rach ‘N Soul
Chamber Concert
October 4 & 5, 3:00 PM
Info/Tickets
Music of Renewal
Symphony Concert
October 19, 3:00 PM
Info/Tickets
Quintessentials
Chamber Concert
November 22 & 23, 3:00 PM
Info/Tickets
Holiday Pops
Symphony Concert
December 14, 3:30 and 7 PM
Info/Tickets
Winter Fire
Chamber Concert
January 31 & February 1, 3:00 PM
Info/Tickets
Romantic Revelations
Symphony Concert
February 14, 7:30 PM
Info/Tickets
Boldness Unbound
Story Time
Chamber Concert
March 28 & 29, 3:00 PM
Info/Tickets
The Human Element
Foursomes
Chamber Concert
May 2 & 3, 3:00 PM
Info/Tickets
A Joyous Sound
Music changes lives, and those lives change the world
Learning in Concert
This program is designed as a unified, comprehensive, three-phase curriculum project spanning an entire school year. LIC uses a concept-based arts integration model where a musical concept is explored alongside other art and academic areas that authentically…
Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras
The Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras (SEMAYO) program was established in 2008 under the auspices of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra for students from beginners to advanced college players.
The Fanfare Project
In the Fanfare Project, students select a person in their lives that is deserving of their own fanfare. Students then compose an original fanfare for their recipient using the NBSO’s graphic music composition program Compose-it Fanfare Edition. At a presentation event, students read their dedication to their recipient, and a musician performs the student’s original fanfare.
Pathway to Performance
The NBSO has introduced Pathway to Performance, a free private lesson program in partnership with New Bedford schools, erasing another barrier preventing all our young people from having equitable access to instrumental performance instruction. Educating and enriching the lives of children is a central part of our mission. By offering a Pathway to Performance to children who love music and want it to be a big part of their life, we are expanding and deepening this commitment to our community.
PreK Music and Literacy
In the Pre-K Music and Literacy program, children discover the similarities between the rhythmic features of words and the rhythmic sounds we hear in music. Using the NBSO’s original musical children’s book A Concert at the Zoo, students perform animal and instrument word pairs using speaking and drumming patterns. Following the classroom sessions, the students visit the local zoo to perform their animal/instrument rhythmic patterns for the animals.
This emphasis on the sounds of words is based on research that shows that listening comprehension is a predictor of reading comprehension and fluency.
Don’t miss your chance to relax, recharge, and restore with us.
Be the first to know about upcoming events and special offers. Enter your email address below.
Our Partners
A standing ovation to our incredible partners! By partnering with us, you’re lighting up the stage and showing your commitment to keeping the performing arts vibrant and thriving here in New Bedford and across the South Coast.
Your belief in the power of the arts inspires every performance, every story, and every standing ovation. Thank you for being part of this magical journey!
