The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra (BSO), founded in 1932, serves Kern County through professional orchestral performances and a range of music education programs designed to expand access to the arts. These programs are offered to schools throughout the county, with intentional outreach to communities and schools with limited access to arts education.

BSO’s education initiatives include three core programs: BSO Next, Young People’s Concerts, and Kids Discover Music.

BSO Next provides students in grades 4–12 with access to live symphony performances through field-based experiences that include transportation, meals, and exposure to professional orchestral music. The program is designed to broaden students’ understanding of the arts while fostering engagement with live performance settings.

Young People’s Concerts serve elementary school students through daytime orchestral performances designed specifically for school audiences. These concerts integrate educational content aligned with music learning objectives and provide students with structured exposure to orchestral instruments and repertoire.

Kids Discover Music brings professional BSO musicians directly into elementary school classrooms. Through interactive presentations and demonstrations, students are introduced to orchestral instruments, musical concepts, and the collaborative nature of ensemble performance.

Across all programs, the BSO prioritizes increasing access to music education for students who may not otherwise have opportunities to experience live orchestral music or in-school arts instruction. These programs serve thousands of Kern County students annually and are designed to support music exposure, cultural enrichment, and early arts engagement.