We love activities that introduce our kids to culture through entertainment and humor. Seize the opportunity to spend a fun afternoon with your family while exposing them to the symphony. The Magic Circle Mime Company and the Phoenix Symphony are hosting an afternoon of mytery. This kid-friendly atmoshere is perfect for a little culture and a lot of fun!

The Book

Title: Jake the Philharmonic Dog

Author: Karen LeFrak

Illustrator: Marcin Baraski

Recommended Age: 4-8

Book Brief: Like most dogs, Jake loves playing fetch. Unklike most dogs, Jake loves music even more. He loves to wag his tail to the beat of an ordinary day and “sing” with the birds. When his friend Richie, the principal stagehand at the Philharmonic, brings Jake to work one day, Jake is treated to a lesson in real music. He “woofs!” to the tweeting woodwinds and “ruffs!” to the deep horns, but when he hears the entire symphony orchestra practice, he knows to be quiet and listen. And when a crisis develops at that night’s performance, Jake steps onstage and steals the show.

About the Author: Karen LeFrak is an active member of the New York Philharmonic Board of Directors. An avid dog-lover, she breeds and shows champion poodles and also visits pediatric units in hospitals to provide animal-assisted therapy with her retired champions. She is married to Richard LeFrak, president of the LeFrak Organization, and they have two sons, Harrison and James. Together they divide their time between Manhattan and Southampton, with their flock of poodles. Karen will be donating her proceeds from this book to the New York Philharmonic.

About the Illustrator: Marcin Baranski doesn’t own a dog, but after completing this book, he’s thinking about it. Over the past six years, he has become a well-known illustrator for Cosmopolitan magazine. Marcin is also a fine artist and lives in Krakow, Poland, with his wife and son. This is Marcin’s first children’s book.

The Blast

The Magic Horn

with the Phoenix Symphony + the Magic Circle Mime Company

Location: Symphony Hall

225 E Adams St

Phoenix, AZ 85004

(602) 262-7272

Date & Time: Saturday, March 7, 2009, 2:30pm

(Pre-concert activities at 1:30)

Cost: $10-$18 per seat

It’s a Blast! The renowned Magic Circle Mime Company joins The Phoenix Symphony for an afternoon of mystery. At the invitation of the conductor, “Sahara Bob”—an adventurer of questionable character—brings his collection of exotic musical instruments to the concert. Little does he know the invitation is a trap. Sahara Bob is about to meet “the genie of the magic horn” and the audience will witness the legendary powers of musical instruments.

Pre-concert Activities (1:30 p.m.) – Mystery and magic abound – make a magic horn and watch a magic show. Abracadabra! An afternoon of fun!

Extra tips for a Good Time:

• Take care of the essentials before the performance starts. Eat lunch before you arrive and have your kids take the opportunity to use the restroom. Nothing can ruin a pleasant afternoon of music and fun like constant potty breaks!
• Check out the other family-friendly concerts put on by the Symphony and sponsored by Target.