Before the Concert FAQ's

Brochures and buying tickets:

• How can I get a Boulder Philharmonic brochure?
  Please call our Box Office at 303-449-1343 x2 and we would be happy to send you a brochure.  Or, email us at boxoffice@boulderphil.org.  Or you can view the brochure online by clicking here.
  
  
• What are the advantages to subscribing?
  There are many advantages to becoming a subscriber.  You can become a subscriber by purchasing tickets to 2 concerts for the season.  There are create your own (10% savings) and senior create your own (15% savings) subscriptions where you can choose 2-4 concerts during the season.  Or for the biggest savings, 20% off, you can purchase the Master Fusion Series and add on any of the additional concerts with a 10% savings off of Nutcracker and Classical Mystery Tour performances.  For a full list of the benefits to becoming a subscriber: click here.  If you are sold on becoming a subscriber already, click here to order.
  
  
• How do I buy single tickets?
  You can purchase tickets by contacting our box office at 303-449-1343 x2 or online.  We also welcome you to visit us at our box office at 2995 Wilderness Place, Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80301.
  
  
• When is the Box Office open for ticket purchases?
  Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and some Saturdays (TBA) during Nutcracker season.
  
  
• Can I purchase tickets at Macky Auditorium or do I need to call the box office?
  There are always tickets available at Macky Auditorium.  However these tickets do not get pulled until the majority of tickets are sold.  Good seats are not guaranteed and the only discounts that will be honored at Macky will be the $5 kid/student ticket.  If you are a senior, CU Faculty, Boulder Ballet member, E-Major member or see a discount in an advertisement, you will need to contact the box office the Friday before the concert date at 303-449-1343 x2 or visit us at 2995 Wilderness Place, Suite 100, Boulder, in order to receive your discount.


• What discounts are available if I am a senior, CU Faculty member…?
  The following is a list of discounts currently available through the Boulder Philharmonic Box Office only.  Tickets must be purchased the Friday before each concert date by calling the box office at 303-449-1343 x2 or visit us at 2995 Wilderness Place, Suite 100, Boulder, in order to receive your discount.
  
  1. $5 Student/Kid Tickets (also available at Macky and online)
  2. 10% off senior tickets (also available online)
  3. 20% off CU Faculty tickets
  4. 20% off group tickets (10+ tickets purchased at one time)
  5. 15% or more discount by becoming a E-Major subscriber
  6. Various discounts through special advertising throughout the year
     
     
• How can I purchase tickets for a group and are there any specials?
  The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra has a special 20% discount rate for group sales of 10 or more tickets.  To purchase for your group, please contact the box office at 303-449-1343 x2 to sign up for your group account.  Once you have signed up for your account, you can use this account all year round at the 20% discount rate. For more information about group accounts please click here.

Macky Auditorium rules, parking, and attending the concert:

• How do I get to Macky Auditorium?
  Macky Auditorium is located on the CU Campus at University and 17th Street.
  Click here for directions to Macky Auditorium, and for a map, click here.
  
  
• What should I wear?
  We want to make sure you are comfortable at the concert.  We invite you to dress up if you’d like to make it a special night out, but casual dress is perfectly suitable. 
  
  
• What time should I arrive?
  If you are interested in the special free pre-concert lectures of the famous author Don Campbell and our music director Michael Butterman, please arrive slightly before 6:30 p.m. for seating.  Doors will be closed at 6:30 p.m. for these special events.  For arriving before the concert, we suggest 30 minutes before to make sure you have enough time for parking and finding your seat.  Doors open for the performance at 7:00 p.m.
  
  
• Are there special arrangements for physically challenged patrons?
  We invite you to contact our box office at 303-449-1343 x2 early enough to book a wheel chair seat and any companion seats needed.  Please advise us if you are in need of a handicap parking spot and special assistance for seating at Macky Auditorium at that time.  We will make all the arrangements for you so you can simply enjoy your evening!
  
  
• Should I bring my children?
  Classical music is very enriching for children, so we highly recommend bringing your children to our concerts, especially our family concert on January 18th.  For most of our concerts we have $5 kid/student tickets available and 20% off for Nutcracker and Classical Mystery Tour tickets.  We also offer a family four pack for most of our concerts. 
  
  Since our tickets are generally affordable for children and families, please do not hesitate to leave during intermission if your child becomes tired.  We also know that children tend to get wiggly at times.  In order to make it comfortable for all our patrons, please take into consideration your child’s attention span.  For example, some children at three years of age are wonderful, but some may not be able to sit still.  Every child is different and we value your judgement.
  
  
• If they can sit on my lap, do I need to purchase a ticket for my child?
  Due to Macky Auditorium’s fire laws, each person in the auditorium must have their own individual ticket.  So, yes, you will need to purchase a ticket for your child. At least for most concerts it is only $5 extra! 
  
  
• Are rehearsals open to the public?
  At this time, rehearsals are not open to the public. 
  
  
• What if I've lost my tickets?
  Subscribers can have their tickets reprinted once with valid identification. We can only reprint tickets for the person whose name is on the account.
  
  
• I bought the tickets but can't come. What should I do?
  We have a 24 hour exchange policy for subscribers.  As long as we have the physical tickets 24 hours in advance, we can exchange them for another concert during the 2007-2008, 50th Anniversary Season.  If you have already purchased the entire season or are not able to go to another concert, you can donate your tickets back to the box office and we will send you a tax letter for your records. You are always welcome to give your tickets to friends or family.
  
  For single ticket buyers, we invite you to either give your tickets to friends or family or you may donate them back to the box office 24 hours in advance. There are no refunds for tickets purchased.
  
  
• Where Should I Park And How Much Does It Cost?
  Parking is available in the Euclid Parking Garage on Euclid Street, next to the University Memorial Center, just off Broadway. The cost is $1.50/hour. Limited street parking is also available along University.
  
  Our donors that donate $1,000 or more will receive free parking passes. Please contact us at 303-449-1343 x113 if you wish to become a donor at this level or fill out our donation form online. 
  
  
• Do I need to know the music before I attend a performance?
  Every concert is a new experience, so it is not necessary to know the music ahead of time.  There are many ways to enhance your listening in advance by listening to recordings of the pieces ahead of time, learning about the composers, and by attending our free pre-concert lectures.  Most people are excited about being introduced to new listening experiences and live music is definitely the best way to experience!
  
  
• How can I introduce my children to music?
  One good way to start is by visiting our Kid’s page where you will find information on the instruments of the orchestra, popular classical composers and concert etiquette information.  Bringing your children to our family concert on January 18th is a fun way for you and your children to learn together about classical music and about the instruments of the orchestra, as well as what a conductor does for the orchestra. 

Lectures, restaurants, volunteering:

• What are Pre-Concert Lectures?
  Before each concert we have a guest speaker or our music director, Michael Butterman give a quick 30 minute lecture about the music and composers you will be hearing that night.  This year we have a special guest lecturer, Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect™ who will be teaching about how to become the “Conscious Listener.”  Click here for more information about this pre-concert lecture series.
  
  
• Any ideas on restaurants to accompany our night at the symphony?
  The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra has partnered with several restaurants in the area.  If you are a subscriber, simply bring your restaurant discount card to one of our partner restaurants and present it before your meal.  For more information about our restaurant partners, click here.
  
  
• How can I volunteer my time for the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra?
  The Boulder Philharmonic has a complete volunteer program and your hours add up to free tickets.  Please click here for all the details!