Simply wear what makes you feel happy and comfortable. Contrary to what many people think, formal attire is not required at MSO performances. Typically, many attendees wear smart casual or business attire. For our galas, the audience generally dresses up a little more, but tuxedos or gowns are not required.

We recommend you arrive at the hall at least 15 minutes before the start time as this will allow you to find your seats without rushing. If you’re picking up tickets from the venue, or planning to have a drink at the bar, we advise arriving at least 30 minutes prior to the concert.

Once a performance commences, the venue doors will be closed and latecomers will not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance, which in some cases may not be until interval. This is in consideration of our artists and audience members. Venue ushers will assist you to locate your seat. A viewing room is available to latecomers at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne.

Many concert-goers only applaud at the end of a complete work, even if the piece has several movements. This means that there may be moments of silence between movements when the music has stopped, but no one applauds. The concert program will list how many movements a work has, and its length.

You can also wait for the rest of the audience to clap before you applaud. When in doubt, just follow the lead of those around you!

This is completely up to you. Some patrons prefer being in the stalls, while others like to be higher up in the circle or balcony to enjoy a top-down view of the entire orchestra. It is also dependent on the repertoire being performed at a concert. For example, if there is a piano soloist, some audience members prefer to have a view where they can see the pianist playing. Because our venues are acoustically designed, any seat provides a wonderful place to enjoy the music.

The use of recording devices, including cameras, is not permitted during performances. This is a distraction for other audience members and musicians.

Our upcoming concert pages are a good place to start, with many providing a preview of the music to be performed. Many people make their selection based on the composer, guest artist, repertoire, or performance date and time.

Food and beverage facilities are available at most venues that we perform in so you can enjoy pre-concert and interval drinks and nibbles.