As a non-profit organization, the Kimmel Center and The Philadelphia Orchestra celebrate and support local Philadelphia teachers all season long with free or heavily discounted tickets, both for themselves and for their students/classrooms. From free concerts by The Philadelphia Orchestra, exclusive invites to Broadway shows, and more – we are proud to invite the hard-working educational communities of our city to delight in the arts.
Teachers, administrators, and staff of the School District of Philadelphia can receive free or heavily discounted tickets to performances by The Philadelphia Orchestra by registering for the APPLE program. APPLE (Appreciation Program for PhilaSD Leaders in Education) is valid for select concerts all season long to see the GRAMMY Award-winning Orchestra in their home at Verizon Hall or even through a streamed concert on the Digital Stage via philorch.org. Registration is easy for Philadelphia School District employees! Just register with your District e-mail address and keep an eye on your email for free ticket offers and special savings. APPLE tickets are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and must be redeemed online.
Teachers enjoy a pre-show reception at our Balcony Bar before a matinee of the musical Hairspray.
Using the promo code INSPIRE at checkout, local teachers can also access heavily discounted tickets to a variety of performances across genres, including Broadway, comedy, jazz, dance, and more. Plus, join our educator email list to receive invites to Teacher Appreciation Events held at our venues throughout the year!
Students participate in a Q&A with dancers of PHILADANCO! after a special student-only performance.
In addition to free tickets for teachers, Ensemble Arts Philly also provides free education programs for schools all year long. These programs include free transportation to and from our locations and have a wide range of focuses from jazz to musical theater, dance to music technology. Programs are developed for all grade-levels (K through 12th) and are led by a team of highly-skilled teaching artists.
Middle school students participate in a hands-on dance workshop.
Students could enjoy a full-day of hands-on learning in workshops or could simply enjoy seeing a special student matinee of a show with a Q&A afterwards with performers. Our Education and Community Engagement team is here to help you decide the best options for your school or classroom. For further information on how to get your students involved, you can complete a general interest form or email us at Education@EnsembleArtsPhilly.org or call at 215-670-2371.
A high school student group from Princeton attended a performance of the new revival of 1776 as part of their racial literacy class. Read more about their trip from a guest blogger: their teacher.
And are you a teacher looking to take your classroom or student group to an evening or matinee performance? We are here to help you do just that with access to exclusive discounted ticket prices for student groups! Teachers can plan a field trip with our Group Sales team who will help identify the best shows, dates, and prices for you. Start planning trips for next year now by contacting us at Education@EnsembleArtsPhilly.org or call 215-670-2371.
Hear the story of ateacher who received free tickets to a Broadway show and reached out with a voicemail of appreciation. It touched our hearts, and we hope it touches yours, too.
The Kimmel Center and The Philadelphia Orchestra are proud to celebrate the important work of teachers, principals, administrators, and more working in Philadelphia by providing access and opportunities to engage with the arts. We appreciate educators year-round and we hope to see you soon!