The Remarkable Farkle McBride invites audiences of all ages to discover the instruments of the symphony orchestra in a fun-filled musical adventure for the whole family. Based on John Lithgow’s beloved children’s book and brought to life through Bill Elliott's colorful musical adaptation, this narrated story follows the journey of a young musical prodigy who, one by one, learns to play every instrument in the orchestra before discovering his true calling as a conductor.

The program will also feature the winner of the Nittany Valley Symphony's 2026 Ann Keller Young Soloist Competition and a side-by-side collaboration with the State College Area High School orchestra. This one-hour concert celebrates the joy of music-making through an engaging introduction to the orchestra and the remarkable musicians who bring it to life.

The photo on the left features last year’s winner of the Ann Keller competition, Evan Zhang. Photography courtesy of Annemarie Mountz.