Frequently Asked Questions
The concert hall buzzes with energy as the audience files in for the performance. The concertmaster takes the stage, acknowledging applause as he leads the musicians in the unmistakable sounds of the orchestra tuning to a unison A. The lights dim, the conductor takes the podium, and with the rise of a baton, the moving sounds start your Charlotte Symphony experience.
Below is some helpful information so you'll know what to expect from your visit.
We encourage you to share your email address with us, as we send welcome emails with your digital program book, helpful information about what to expect, and important alerts, several days before each performance.
| Patron Services (Ticket Office) |
| Individual tickets for Charlotte Symphony concerts and programs can be purchased through either our Patron Services Department or the Blumenthal Performing Arts Box Office. Subscriptions for Charlotte Symphony performances may only be purchased through our Patron Services Department.
Charlotte Symphony Patron Services Department |
| Accessibility |
| Accessible seating for patrons using wheelchairs and walkers is available in all areas of Blumenthal Performing Arts theaters. We strongly suggest consulting with Patron Services (704.972.2000) to determine your best and most accessible seating options. Trained service animals that perform life functions for individuals with disabilities are permitted. Emotional Support or Comfort animals are not permitted. See accessibility services per theater here. |
| Cell Phone Usage |
| Please make sure that all devices are either silenced or turned off before the concert begins and prior to the second half of the concert after intermission. Cell phone photography is permitted without flash. Video is not permitted. If you are in a profession that requires you to be on-call, you may leave your electronic device at coat check and ask an usher to alert you if necessary. |
| Children |
| We welcome young children to our one-hour Family Series concerts, designed for children 4 to 9 years of age. Babes in arms (fewer than 2 years of age) may sit with their parents, and are admitted free of charge for Family Series concerts. We welcome young children to our Summer Pops concerts at Symphony Park at SouthPark. Special children's pricing is available. Children, 12 years of age and younger are admitted free in the general admission lawn area. Children, approximately 6 and over, are welcome at all other longer-format Pops, Classical, & Special Event performances with a purchased ticket. |
| Group Rates |
| Ticket discounts are available for groups of 10 or more for most concerts. Please click here to submit an information request form. |
| Health Statement: COVID-19 |
| As cases of COVID-19 in our area continue to remain low, the Charlotte Symphony has updated its safety protocols as follows: Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test are NO LONGER required to attend CSO performances. Masks are encouraged at indoor venues, but are not required at this time. These policies are subject to change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. Learn More |
| In Case of Emergency |
| Please proceed to the closest door marked with a lighted Exit sign. Blumenthal ushers on duty will direct you to the closest and safest building exits. It is imperative that you listen to and comply with announced instructions. |
| Inclement Weather Policy |
| The Charlotte Symphony cancels performances only in the event of severe weather. If a concert is cancelled due to severe weather, ticketholders will receive notification at the email address used to purchase tickets. This email will include information about performance refunds. Updates will also be posted on the Charlotte Symphony website. If a performance is not cancelled but you feel unsafe travelling to the performance, you may exchange into a future performance in the same season. Follow the Charlotte Symphony on Facebook or Twitter (@CLTsymphony) for updates. |
| Lost & Found |
| If you lost an item during an event, please call 704-379-1219 for assistance. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and the Charlotte Symphony are not responsible for lost items. Found items are held for 30 days. |
| Parking |
| Detailed parking information for Belk and Knight theaters can be found below.
Our patrons receive a preferred parking rate of $5 in Blumenthal Performing Arts Center's designated garages, the Bank of America Center Parking Garage and 7th Street Station Parking Garage. This rate is valid after 5 p.m. on weekdays. There is no time restriction for the weekend. To receive your parking rate, purchase a parking pass at the concessions kiosk or parking information table at the theater, and use that ticket when exiting your designated garage. Click here for map of directions and a parking guide. |
| Refreshments |
| Full bar, beverages, and snacks are available for your enjoyment both pre-concert and during intermission at Blumenthal theaters. Outside food and beverages are not permitted. |
| Student Tickets |
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Students InTune |
| Ticket Exchange and Refund Policy |
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Refund Policy |
| Ticket Credit from Canceled Concerts |
| When you have identified a subscription package that suits your schedule or a concert you would like to attend, call our Patron Services department at 704.972.2000 or email ticketoffice@charlottesymphony.org. Please include your name and address so we can identify your account and apply your credit. Credit is good through December 2021. |
| Venue Information |
| As a resident company of Blumenthal Performing Arts, the Charlotte Symphony performs at both Belk Theater and Knight Theater. Theater box offices open two hours prior to performances, and theaters open doors one-half hour before each concert. Arrive early and indulge in one of many uptown restaurants or bars prior to the performance. Full bar, beverages, and snacks are available for your enjoyment both pre-concert and during intermission at Blumenthal theaters. Health & Safety Update: Because of current health and safety concerns, there are designated areas in the theater where you can remove your mask and consume food or beverage. Refreshments are not allowed inside the theaters. Belk Theater - 130 N Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202 Knight Theater - 430 S Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202 |
Other Frequently Asked Questions
| When should I arrive? |
| In most cases, performances begin at 7:30 pm. We suggest you arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the concert starts in order to purchase any beverages, find your seat, read the program, and watch the musicians as they take the stage to warm up. Ticketholders who come late will not be seated in the hall until after the conclusion of the first work on the program or as determined by the Symphony that evening. Concertgoers who must leave the hall before or during a selection will not be reseated until after that piece has concluded, at the next natural break in the performance. |
| What should I wear? |
| Whatever makes you feel comfortable! Some like to dress up for evening concerts, while others prefer to wear jeans and t-shirts. For the most part, Pops and Family series concerts trend more casual, while Classical Series concerts trend toward business attire. |
| When do I clap? |
| You'll notice that audience members applaud for three reasons: 1) To welcome the concertmaster (violinist who sits in the first chair of the first row). 2) To welcome the conductor for the evening, which occurs after the orchestra finishes tuning. 3) If we have a soloist/s, to welcome them as well. Applause is not necessary until the end of each piece of music. Longer works, such as full symphonies, are composed of several movements separated by a pause. You do not need to applaud between movements. |
| Are the musicians full-time? |
| Charlotte Symphony musicians are employed on a full-time basis and rehearse and perform during the regular season (September to May). Summer season (June-July) includes performances at Symphony Park and elsewhere across our wider community. |
| Are pets allowed? |
| Only trained service animals that perform life functions for individuals with disabilities are permitted. |
| Is smoking permitted? |
| Smoking is prohibited in Blumenthal Performing Arts theaters. |
| What exactly is a "symphony orchestra"? |
| As opposed to a chamber orchestra, a symphony orchestra is large enough to perform full symphonic works. An orchestra is made up of four sections: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Instruments found in each include the following: Strings: violin, viola, cello, bass, harp Woodwinds: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, English horn Brass: trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba Percussion: timpani, xylophone |
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