Educational Concerts
Our educational concerts open minds in the moment, and more importantly, long after they’ve left the building. The Sheldon introduces young people to jazz, folk, classical, world music, dance and more through engaging, one-of-a kind performances. These one-hour performances feature some of St. Louis’ top musicians and educators, as well as several nationally acclaimed artists. At the end of each performance, students have the opportunity for a Q&A session with artists.
Educational Concert Series
Education Concerts are $6 per ticket, with one free chaperone/adult ticket for every 10 student tickets. Need-based assistance available for qualifying schools.
Teacher Handbooks are provided for use before and after the visit, which include additional educational materials and follow-up activities.
Registration opens August 3.
Following are planned dates for the 2026-2027 school year.
American Musical
It takes a good story, lyrics, music, dance and design to put a musical together. Enjoy a fast-paced look at the process, with music from West Side Story, Hamilton and more!
Audience: Middle & High School.
October 23, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.December 4, 2026, at 10 a.m.February 17, 2027, at 10 a.m.April 1, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.
Dance the Story: The Nutcracker and the 1904 World’s Fair
Enjoy this unique retelling of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker as Clara and her sisters dance through a dream filled with familiar sights, sweets and sounds of the 1904 World’s Fair. Presented in partnership with Ballet 314.
Audience: Early Elementary.
Dance the Story: Sleeping Beauty
Experience the connected worlds of dance, music and literacy through Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty ballet. Students will learn the building blocks of every great story and will want to dance along by the end of the show! Presented in partnership with Ballet 314.
Audience: Early Elementary.
February 18, 2027, at 10 a.m.February 19, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.April 22, 2027, at 10 a.m.April 23, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.
Drums and Dances of Africa
Introduce your students to the sounds and movements of West Africa, with music and dance that celebrate history, nature and community. Presented in partnership with Afriky Lolo.
Audience: All Ages.
October 21, 2026, at 10 a.m.October 22, 2026, at 10 a.m.February 2, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.February 3, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.
February 4, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.February 5, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.April 13, 2027, at 10 a.m.April 14, 2027, at 10 a.m.
The Jazz Story
Experience the story of America’s unique creation, jazz, from Duke Ellington to Herbie Hancock! A quintet of local jazz musicians showcase the evolution of jazz with a musical, visual, and interactive presentation featuring some of St. Louis’s own musical greats.
Audience: Elementary – Middle.
October 27, 2026, at 10 a.m.December 8, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.February 9, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.March 9, 2027, at 10 a.m.
The Music of Lewis and Clark
Follow the amazing adventures of Lewis and Clark, with a musical journey featuring historic and original folk music from St. Louis, up the Missouri River, across the Rockies all the way to the Pacific Ocean!
Audience: Elementary.
November 10, 2026, 10 a.m.,February 12, 2027, 10:30 a.m.March 9, 2027, at 10 a.m.
Wednesday Morning Concerts
NEW this season: Morning Concerts for Middle and High Schoolers
In an expansion of our morning series for adults, The Sheldon will offer middle and high school groups the opportunity to attend the 10 a.m. concerts with up-close access to the artist in a Q&A afterward. These widely varied concerts feature amazing artists from St. Louis and beyond. Tickets will be booked through our group sales manager.
Wednesday Morning Concerts are $15 per ticket, with a minimum group of 20 and available to middle and high school students only. One free chaperone ticket is included per 20 students. Limited need-based assistance is available for these concerts.
Please contact The Sheldon’s marketing department to register for Wednesday morning concerts. Registration is open now.
26/27 dates are listed below!
Vincent Varvel Quartet featuring Leslie Craig | Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Acclaimed St. Louis guitarist Vincent Varvel returns with his group for two mornings of songs of the ‘60’s, featuring tasteful renditions of familiar tunes that will take listeners back in time.
Lola Kristine: Home for the Holidays | Wednesday, December 16, 2026
Known as “the little girl with the big voice,” Lola Kristine has been staggering audiences her whole life with the depth of soul she possesses in both her timeless songwriting and penetrating singing. Although currently pursuing her career in Southern California, she is a St. Louis native, she has kept her roots alive by fusing jazz, blues and gospel into her music.
New Arts Jazztet | Wednesday, February 24, 2027
The New Arts Jazztet has long been regarded as southern Illinois' premier jazz group, regularly presenting a select repertoire—engaging original works as well as choice standards—forged in the energy of neo bop and the eclecticism of contemporary jazz. With its hip, approachable character and sound, the cross-generational group—saxophone, trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums—convincingly helps to sustain jazz in the 21st Century.
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Denise Thimes | Wednesday, March 24, 2027
Vocalist Denise Thimes is St. Louis jazz royalty. She has performed with such notables as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (St Louis, MO), the late Clark Terry (The Blue Note-NY), Dr. Billy Taylor, Earl May, Benny Powell (Flushing Town Hall), and James Moody (Blue Note-NY). She has also graced the stage with the likes of Houston Person, Jimmy & Tootie Heath, Bobby McFerrin, and Bucky Pizzarelli.
Mark Stoffel Trio | Wednesday, May 5, 2027
Mark Stoffel is a self-described bluegrass music “addict.” He was introduced to music in 1979, when, as a teenager, he wanted a ukulele for Christmas and was mistakenly given a mandolin instead. The flub turned into a virtue, as he parlayed a classic mandolin instructional book, occasional exposure to bluegrass through radio and concerts by touring American musicians, and accumulated experience in folk, rock, and bluegrass bands into a lifelong artistic pursuit. Today his tasteful mandolin performances can be heard on countless recordings, including his first solo release, One-O-Five, and a string of Chris Jones and the Night Drivers projects, including Run Away Tonight (2015), Made To Move (2017) and the most recent, The Choosing Road (2019).
