The 2023 season brings new delights to the Proms, and there are a number of highlights in the programme this year that have a particular interest to children. As the weather warms up, its time to consider concert possibilities. And its particularly good value for under-18s as they are entitled to half-price tickets.

Horrible Histories ahoy! There’s something special for the musical historian down at the Royal Albert Hall near the end of July. If your children are fans of the Terry Deary books, they’re in for a treat – on Saturday 22^nd July the Horrible Histories team will be joined by the English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra for an exploration of opera suitable for children. Horrible Histories characters are featured, as well as works from Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.

On Saturday 5^th August 2023, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain will be visiting the Royal Albert Hall. The orchestra, founded after the second world war, was set up in order to give exciting experiences of orchestral music to young musicians and audiences. This year the orchestra is playing some American repertoire, including Aaron Copland’s lyrical Symphony No. 3, featuring his famous Fanfare for the Common Man. In addition, some German repertoire is also featured, specifically Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs – as well as Hindemith’s jovial reworking of some themes by the composer Weber. The minimum standard needed to audition for the orchestra is ABRSM Grade 8 or its equivalent.

Later on in August if your young ones like adventure, there’s a special film and television prom. Music from Harry Potter is featured giving the evening a dusting of magic, as well as themes from The Lord of the Rings. And if any of your children are ballet fans, The Rite By Heart features a dramatic musical exploration of Stravinsky’s the Rite of Spring, where stories are told of the Rite’s origins, and the scene of its notorious concert premiere is broadcast, before finally the whole ballet is performed off by heart.

So something for everyone at the Proms this year – and its proximity to the museum quarter makes a fun day out for the family. Seats can be reserved using the link below: https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/proms/bbc-proms-2023/.