School-Day Matinees
The Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech is dedicated to providing transformative arts experiences to children through gallery tours, artist engagements, and special school-day matinee performances from renowned touring artists for children, teachers, and families.
Explore exciting new opportunities to connect with the arts through performances and study guides created especially for young audiences. Mark your calendar now and register to attend these engaging performances and discussions. You can also join our email list and select "K12 and school-day events" to learn more about the Moss Arts Center’s matinees and activities with visiting artists.
These free events are open to public, private, and homeschool students; teachers; and families; but reservations are required.
All school-day performances are held in the Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, unless otherwise noted.
123 Andrés
Around the Americas
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
10-11 AM
Recommended for grades PK-2
Find more information and register
Christina and Andrés can’t find their friend, Juana, and their only clue is that she’s somewhere in the Americas. Join Latin Grammy Award-winning 123 Andrés in this lively, interactive concert to search the continents and learn about geography, culture, and music along the way. The audience will be a key part in this rich journey brought to the stage with colorful, exciting visuals. Andrés and Christina, both native Spanish speakers, incorporate language seamlessly, empowering students to sing in both Spanish and English, as well as moving and dancing. Learning has never been so fun!
Lightwire Theater
Dino-Light
Monday, September 30, 2024
10-11 AM
Recommended for students in grades 1-5
Registration for this event is full; join the waitlist
Dino-Light tells the story of a playful dinosaur who wanders away from home and discovers a world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. This visually stunning, glow-in-the-dark adventure is an unforgettable blend of puppetry, technology, and dance.
Cirque Kalabanté
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
10-11 AM
Recommended for grades 3-7
Registration for this event is full; join the waitlist
Daredevil acrobatics, human pyramids, and lively dancing is driven by Afro-jazz, kora, and thunderous djembe drums, showcasing the strength, agility, and energy of the young African diaspora. Guinea-born Cirque Eloize and Cirque de Soleil performer Yamoussa Bangoura founded the troupe in Montreal. Cirque Kalabanté has since become the world’s premiere West African cirque company.
Lakecia Benjamin
Thursday, February 13, 2025
10-11 AM
Recommended for grades 6-12
Find more information and register
Fresh off three Grammy nominations for her 2023 album, Phoenix, charismatic saxophonist and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin is a fearless musician with deep jazz roots. She went from playing a recorder in grade school to becoming one of the most sought-after jazz musicians on the music scene. Renowned for her bold approach and ability to seamlessly blend genres, Benjamin has shared stages with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots, Macy Gray, and many others.
Kodo
Friday, February 28, 2025
10-11 AM
Recommended for grades 6-12
Registration for this event is full; join the waitlist
Exploring the limitless possibilities of the traditional Japanese taiko drum, Kodo enthralls audiences with its athleticism and energy. Known worldwide as the “grandfather group” of kodo drumming, the ensemble transcends the boundaries of traditional musical experiences, where ancient rhythms meet dynamic contemporary expression.
The Dante Quartet
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
10-11 AM
Recommended for grades 8-12
Find more information and register
One of the U.K.’s premier string ensembles, the Dante Quartet is known for its imaginative programming and impassioned performances. The Dante Quartet was founded in 1995 and chose its name to reflect the idea of an epic journey. The ensemble has performed cycles of the complete Beethoven and Shostakovich string quartets in single marathon weekends and has collaborated with playwright Clare Norburn on a dramatized version of Beethoven’s quartet cycle.
Little Women
Presented by the School of Performing Arts
Friday, April 25, 2025
10 AM-12:15 PM
Recommended for grades 9-12
Registration for this event is full
By Kate Hamill
Adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott
FAQs
If you cannot attend or your party turns out to be smaller than the number of tickets you have reserved, please inform the Moss Arts Center as soon as possible by contacting Jon Catherwood-Ginn at rjginn@vt.edu so that Moss staff can release your tickets to those on the waiting list.
The Moss Arts Center is committed to being accessible to all of our patrons. Those with disabilities and their companions are accommodated through wheelchair seating, parking, and other special requests throughout the center at all levels. Assisted listening devices are available. Service animals are permitted. Sign interpretations and large-print programs are available with advance notice. If you or your students have questions regarding accessibility or would like assistance, please contact Jamie Wiggert at wiggertj@vt.edu.
To supplement your students' learning, a study guide tailored to each performance will be provided via email in advance.
The bus drop-off location is on the Alumni Mall side of the Moss Arts Center, located at 190 Alumni Mall on the campus of Virginia Tech. Drivers may pull their buses into the driveway loop directly in front of the center. Staff will be on-site to assist. Recommended arrival time is 15-30 minutes before the start-time of the performance.
Those driving cars and vans may park in the North End Center Garage (300 Turner Street NW), which is one block from the Moss Arts Center's Turner Street entrance. A valid university parking permit, a validation from one of the retail tenants, or payment of the daily fee is required to park in the North End Center Garage.
Bus staging is located in the upper section of the Chicken Hill lot (Football Lot 5) on the campus of Virginia Tech. The lot entrance is on Southgate Drive, opposite Sterrett Drive. Parking passes will not be required for buses. For more information about parking at Virginia Tech, please visit parking.vt.edu. Please note that buses are not permitted to park adjacent to the Moss Arts Center's Turner Street entrance, except in special circumstances when permission can be granted.
When you arrive at the center, please check-in with Moss Arts Center staff to confirm that your party has arrived. Staff will be on-site to assist seating your group, directing you to restrooms, and answering any questions you may have.
In accordance with guidance from Virginia Tech, masks are no longer required in indoor public spaces, but remain recommended. Find more information about COVID safety at the Moss here.
We remain committed to assisting your group with safe, smooth entry to the performance venue. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Shara at sappanaitis@vt.edu.
Unless otherwise noted, all school-day performances take place in the Street and Davis Performance Hall's Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre in the Moss Arts Center.
It is recommended that buses arrive back at the Moss Arts Center 15 minutes before the end of the performance. Following the performance, please remain in your seats; school groups will be dismissed by Moss Arts Center staff to ensure a smooth and speedy departure for all. Staff and volunteers will assist school groups in meeting their buses in the center’s Alumni Mall driveway.
Following the performance, you may receive an email requesting feedback on your group's experience. Please make time to respond, as doing so could significantly improve the Moss Arts Center's pre-K to grade 12 programs for you and future visitors.