On Sept. 21, the Missouri State University campus will feature a sensory-friendly musical environment for people of all backgrounds to enjoy.

The Missouri State Symphony Orchestra and Burrell Behavioral Health will present the “Free to be Yourself” concert from 3:30-5 p.m.in Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public.

“This outreach concert demonstrates the university’s commitment to creating a safe, welcoming place where people can be free to be themselves,” said Dr. Yi-Ping Chen, orchestra director and assistant professor of music.

“Audience members can respond to the music with their voices, movements and hearts.”

Before joining Missouri State, Chen hosted sensory-friendly concerts with her community orchestra, Rockbridge Symphony, and the Community Services Board in Lexington, Virginia. She believed students and the community could benefit from the experience. In fall 2024, she approached Burrell, who agreed to collaborate.

The success of that first concert led Chen and Burrell to plan another for this fall, with hopes of making it an annual tradition.

The music and environment

The orchestra will perform standard classical symphonic selections like Grainger’s “Irish Tune from County Derry.”

“This piece was chosen because Grainger only found freedom to be himself in his music,” Chen said.

Other selections include Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio Espagnol,” Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2,” second movement and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 4,” final movement.

Quiet spaces and sensory toys will be available during the concert. The toys are made possible by Missouri State’s Project ACCESS and the Burrell Autism Center.

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