Concert Drama

 
 
Orchestral Programs for Young Audiences /with Young Orchestras (45-50 minutes each) Jennifer Sacher Wiley, author 20th Century Time Capsule Educational Goal: American history of the 20th century Technical needs: screen, projector Repertoire: String orchestra works by Gershwin, Copland, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and Bloch Beethoven’s Theater Educational Goal: drama in sonata form Technical Needs: amplification Repertoire: Beethoven, Symphony No. 2, 1st movement Outside the Music Box Educational Goal: connection between art and music Technical Needs: Multi-colored lights, screen, computer graphic program, amplification Repertoire: original work- Patrick Long’s “Color Concerto”, short standard excerpts/arrangements Concert Invasion Educational Goal: music fundamentals Technical Needs: white flashlights, screen, body mics helpful Repertoire: original work- Patrick Long’s “Alien Invasion”, short standard excerpts Composer Encounter Educational Goal: music history Technical Needs: amplification Repertoire: medium length excerpts by Handel, Mozart, Sibelius, Ives

Orchestral Programs

for Young Audiences /with Young Orchestras

(45-50 minutes each)

Jennifer Sacher Wiley, author





20th Century Time Capsule

    Educational Goal:  American history of the 20th century

    Technical needs:  screen, projector

    Repertoire: String orchestra works by Gershwin, Copland, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and Bloch



Beethoven’s Theater

    Educational Goal:  drama in sonata form

    Technical Needs:  amplification

    Repertoire:  Beethoven, Symphony No. 2, 1st movement



Outside the Music Box

    Educational Goal:  connection between art and music

    Technical Needs:  Multi-colored lights, screen, computer graphic program, amplification

    Repertoire:  original work- Patrick Long’s “Color Concerto”, short standard excerpts/arrangements


Concert Invasion

    Educational Goal:  music fundamentals

    Technical Needs:  white flashlights, screen, body mics helpful

    Repertoire:  original work- Patrick Long’s “Alien Invasion”, short standard excerpts


Composer Encounter

    Educational Goal:  music history

    Technical Needs:  amplification

    Repertoire:  medium length excerpts by Handel, Mozart, Sibelius, Ives


“Thank you for coming to our school to play your wonderful songs.  The new song played at the end was a spooky and great song to play.”


Concert Drama from Jennifer Sacher Wiley has been delighting audiences of all ages since 1999.  Shows can be rented by professional/community orchestras for family concerts.  Or school and community groups can hear a show presented by the Susquehanna University Orchestra.  Chamber music groups from SU also present programs geared for grades 6-12.

Options for professional/community orchestras


  1. •Rent show only, use all your own actors, conductor, musicians

  2. •Rent show with Jennifer Sacher Wiley as facilitator and/or guest conductor

  3. •Rent show with JSW and SU actors

  4. •Rent show with JSW and Patrick Long (recommended for high-tech shows)

  5. •Include your Young Artist Competition winner in the program (scripts adaptable)

Options for schools/community productions

(with SU faculty/student performers)


• 45-50 minute assembly for Concert Drama program

  1. •Request SU students to present informal lecture-demos to individual classrooms

  2. •Request SU students to run sectionals for your elementary or middle school orchestra and/or lead master classes

  3. •Present Concert Drama in side-by-side format with HS or MS orchestra (youth orchestras, too!)

“The actors were great at all the parts. 

They all had energy, lots of spirit, and weren’t afraid to say things very loudly.”

Composer Patrick Long has created two original works for orchestral Concert Drama. 


He also has acted in two touring SU productions and designs & implements all technology components.

Contact jswiley@susqu.edu for more information.