Welcome to Portland Columbia Symphony!

Thanks for looking around our website. We love to help new audiences feel comfortable in their ticket purchase and the concert experience, so we’ve compiled this page just for you to help answer the most frequently asked questions about what to expect.

Got a question that’s not answered here? Let us know!

Note: If you’ve never been to see a symphony orchestra perform live, be sure to also check out our Symphony 101.

Frequently Asked Questions

Portland Columbia Symphony performs in two venues, one in downtown Portland, and one in Gresham for audiences that live in East County, where we are the only symphony orchestra to present a regular concert series!

In Portland, our concerts are held in the Goose Hollow neighborhood, near Providence Park, where the Portland Timbers and Thorns play. In Gresham, we perform in the Gresham High School auditorium. Both venues come with free parking and comfortable seating.

By buying early and/or in bulk! We never discount in the weeks leading up to a concert, because we want to ensure that our most loyal patrons – our subscribers – get the very best prices. Groups of 10 or more also save on tickets. On occasion, we may distribute limited-time special offers to our email list, but when you think about it, paying $30 to hear 62+ musicians on stage performing just for you for two hours is a pretty sweet deal.

In addition to our standard adult ticket price, we offer discounts for students and Oregon Trail Card holders.

Portland Columbia Symphony concerts are relaxed environments, and dressing casual is just fine with us.

PCSO can be a great experience for young listeners! Generally, classical concerts are recommended for kids over 7, but you know your child best. We just ask that you be sensitive to the listeners around you, as lots of movement or noise can be distracting.

Due to fire code regulations, all humans, including very small ones, must be ticketed.

We’ve compiled directions and parking tips over at Venues & Getting Here, as well as our favorite nearby spots for pre- or post-concert meals and drinks.

If your tickets are being held for you in Will Call, you may arrive as early as 60 minutes early to claim them. All ticket holders are welcome to attend the free pre-concert talk with the music director in the concert hall starting an hour before the show; doors to the hall remain open after that.

Late arrivals will be seated at the earliest break in the music.

It’s exceedingly rare, but on the occasion that a guest artist falls ill or experiences any other kind of emergency, some pieces and/or musicians on the program may change. The best way to stay up to date on program changes, as well as concert duration, nearby road closures, and other important information, is to join our email list; all ticket holders receive a Concert Reminder email a few days before the concert, with everything you need!

We love our cell phones as much as the next person, but classical concerts are often enjoyed best when you unplug. All we ask is that you treat your phone at the concert the same way you’d treat it at the movies!

Do:
• Turn your phone to silent while the orchestra is playing.
• Turn the ringer back on at intermission if you like.
• Take selfies and photos, but only when it’s not distracting to those around you.
• Post your selfies and photos on social media at intermission or after the show.

Don’t:
• Allow your phone to ring or vibrate during concerts.
• Take a call, text, or browse the internet during concerts.
• Use flash photography, which is distracting to both players and audiences.
• No video or audio recording, please.

 

Concerts during the COVID-19 Era

The health and wellness of our players and audience remain our number one priority. As state and federal policies change, we’ll be ready to implement any number of measures to ensure that the live concert experience is presented safely and responsibly. A few of the measures we are exploring include:

  • Closing off rows of seats, and/or assigning distanced seating between parties.
  • Enlisting additional support at the concert hall to ensure safe distances between people at entry and exit points.
  • Streaming concerts online for those who are unable to comfortably attend.
  • Developing digital content in place of high-touch materials like program books.
  • Monitoring temperatures of staff and players.
  • Getting creative about our ensemble’s set-up.
  • Encouraging masks and other protective wear, both on stage as possible and in the hall.

We will present every concert we have planned as long as it is safe to do so. If a concert needs to be canceled, all ticket holders will have the option of receiving a refund for those tickets. Whatever happens, you can be assured that we’ll maintain close communication with you, our audience, throughout the entire season.

A special request…

In order to continue learning, adapting, and evolving, PCSO needs the support of our community more than ever. Please consider making a gift in support of our efforts and organization today.

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