Frequently Asked Questions

Sarasota Orchestra performs in several venues during the season. Venues addresses are printed on each ticket and also appear in order confirmation and reminder emails. Click here for more information about the location of all venues and where Sarasota Orchestra performs.

Complimentary self-parking is available for concerts at the Neel Performing Arts Center, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Neel Performing Arts Center. Valet parking is available at the Van Wezel for $10. For concerts at the Sarasota Opera House, complimentary valet service is available. Street parking and parking garages are within walking distance of the Sarasota Opera House.

We suggest you arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled concert start time to ensure you have enough time to locate your seat.

Performance length varies, but typically Masterworks, Pops and Great Escapes concerts run approximately 90-120 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission. Chamber, Great Escapes, and Discoveries concerts run approximately 60-75 minutes, typically without an intermission. Contact the Box Office for questions about a specific concert.

Business casual or dressy casual is the common concert attire, however there is no dress code – formal to casual is welcome. Sarasota Orchestra embraces our tagline: Come as you are. Leave different. Please be considerate of those in the audience who may have allergies and refrain from wearing scented products such as cologne or perfume.

In many classical works, especially symphonies and concerti, the conductor will pause briefly for about 10-15 seconds between movements. Since the early 1900’s, it is common for audiences to hold their applause during the short breaks in music, until the end of the entire piece. The conductor will signal when a piece is finished by putting his or her arms down and turning to the audience. You can check your program to know how many movements to expect. (Note: there are times when the audience is overcome with applause at the end of a particularly stirring movement. Most conductors do not object to the spontaneous appreciation.)

Photography, video and audio recording are prohibited during all Sarasota Orchestra concerts. Please be respectful of the musicians and fellow audience members and turn all electronic devices off during the concert.

Smoking and the use of electronic smoking devices are prohibited inside all Sarasota Orchestra concert venues.

Food and drink is prohibited inside all Sarasota Orchestra concert venues, unless otherwise noted.

Children may attend any Sarasota Orchestra concert as long as they have a ticket. It is generally recommended that children be able to sit quietly for the duration of the concert. We do not allow babies or toddlers, unless it is a family concert. All attendees must have their own seat. Symphony staff or ushers will ask parents to take disruptive children out of the hall.

Service animals that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks directly related to the person's disability are welcome to all Sarasota Orchestra concerts. 

Pets including emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Sarasota Orchestra reserves the right to restrict admittance to animals that are not “trained to do work or perform tasks” per the ADA.

Classical Conversations are informative presentations about each Masterworks program. They are at 10:30am on the Thursday before each Masterworks concert week at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center (709 N. Tamiami Trail). Tickets are $16 at the door, and $11 in advance online or through the Box Office. For more information contact the Box Office at (941) 953-3434.

Please contact the Box Office directly at 941-953-3434 or email us for wheelchair seating and/or any special needs or requests. Wheelchair seating is not available for purchase online.

Beverages and snacks are generally available for purchase before the concert as well as during intermission at all Sarasota Orchestra concert venue, except at Neel PAC.

The Box Office is located in the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Additionally, Box Office staff is onsite at each venue beginning one hour prior to the concert start time.

Ticket sales are vital to sustain Sarasota Orchestra and preserve great music in our community.  In the event Sarasota Orchestra needs to cancel a performance, we encourage ticket holders who are able to donate their tickets.  We also offer free exchanges or credits for a future concert, or a refund of the ticket price for the cancelled event. (The Orchestra retains a $1 per ticket non-refundable portion for our Operating Reserve Fund.)

Will Call tickets can be picked up at the concert venue’s Box Office beginning an hour prior to the concert start time. Tickets can also be picked up from the Sarasota Box Office in the Beatrice Symphony Center Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm.

Yes! Tickets are available for purchase at the concert venue’s Box Office beginning one hour prior to the concert start time.

If a concert is sold out, the Box Office will begin a wait list beginning the Monday prior to the sold out concert. Call the Box Office at 941-953-3434 and request to be placed on the list. You may also be added to the wait list at the concert venue, beginning one-hour before the concert. Wait list tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis.

Contact the Box Office at 941-953-3434 or visit us in person and we will issue a reprint of your ticket.

Receive 20% off for groups of 20 or more. For more information about group tickets, please contact the Box Office at (941) 953-3434.

We offer student rush $9 tickets for students aged 25 and under with valid school ID. These $9 seats will be available at the door for most concerts that are not sold out. We also offer the $9 price to one adult accompanying a youth under 18 years old. From time to time, a discount may be communicated through our electronic newsletter or on our social media pages. Sign up online!

There is a wheelchair on the premises for emergency use. However, staff are not allowed to provide physical support if a patron requires mobility assistance. It is recommended a personal care attendant accompany the patron to the performance. Please contact the Patron Services Manager if you have any questions or concerns before your visit.

The Van Wezel PAH utilizes EVOLV Express technology, which allows patrons to quickly walk through security scanners without stopping. Smaller objects such as keys and eyeglass cases will be detected and it is recommended these items be kept in your vehicles whenever possible. The EVOLV Express technology is safe for those patrons wearing pacemakers. Please contact the Sarasota Orchestra Patron Services Manager if you have any questions or concerns before your visit.