For almost a quarter of a century, the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s program series for children has brought a high-quality classical musical experience to the youngest. The orchestra’s rehearsal room not only serves as a space for experimenting with the tiniest details of the symphonic pieces to be performed or for playing chamber music, but also as the venue for educating the next generation of classical music lovers. There is no better promotion of these events than the fact that several members of the BFO’s loyal audiences came to love music at these Cocoa Concerts, with a polka-dot mug in their hands, and they bring their own children these days. While listening to the orchestra’s excellent musicians performing in a cozy atmosphere, the audience will learn about the instruments of the symphony orchestra and concert etiquette in a playful and interactive manner. After the concert, the children can have a mug of cocoa in the lobby.

Since 2015, we have also offered an autism-friendly version of our Cocoa Concerts thanks to the professional contribution of Nemzetközi Cseperedő Alapítvány (an international foundation to support children and their families living with autism). To ensure that the children living with autism do not encounter anything unexpected during the concert, the BFO provides the families with some information material in advance to help them prepare the children for the visual and auditory stimuli.