Sensory-friendly concert with Minnesota Orchestra violinist Sarah Grimes and guest violinist Ben Odhner in the Target Atrium, adapted for families and attendees with sensory sensitivities.
The Minnesota Orchestra is bringing a sensory-friendly concert to the Target Atrium at Orchestra Hall on Saturday, October 17. It's part of their Relaxed Family & Sensory-Friendly series, which is built for families and people with sensory sensitivities—including those with autism—so that audiences of all ages can be themselves while they listen. The sensory-friendly strand pairs individual musicians or small ensembles with the Atrium rather than the main auditorium, so you can see and hear the instruments up close and ask questions in an intimate setting. Fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, and quiet spaces are on hand.
This particular session features Minnesota Orchestra violinist Sarah Grimes and guest violinist Ben Odhner, with host Lyndie Walker, who is a board-certified music therapist with Toneworks Music Therapy Services. The whole thing is part of the Nordic Soundscapes Festival, and the concert runs about 50 minutes with no intermission. Doors open around an hour before it starts. It's a different pace than the full Orchestra's Relaxed Family Concerts, which take place in the main hall with pre- and post-concert activities in the lobby.
One attendee from 2026 described it as a "judgment free" zone where people of all abilities felt comfortable moving around and processing the music. That's the core of it: a space where you don't have to worry about sitting perfectly still or staying quiet if that's not how you experience a performance. If you're bringing kids or anyone who might find a traditional concert hall a bit much, that's exactly what this is for.
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It's at Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403, on Saturday, October 17. The music lasts about 50 minutes, and doors open around an hour before it begins.
