Sensory-Friendly Open Rehearsal Welcomes All Families

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is delighted to partner with Emergent Learning Centers (ELC) for a Sensory-Friendly Open Rehearsal on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Wentz Concert Hall in downtown Naperville.

This relaxed and family-friendly evening is open to the general public and designed to make live orchestral music accessible and enjoyable for all audiences, including neurodivergent children, teens, and adults, such as individuals with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing differences.

Families are invited to come and go as needed and experience the music in a way that feels comfortable for them. Guests may bring iPads, headphones, fidget tools, or other sensory supports, and water bottles are welcome in the auditorium. Nut-free brownies, provided by MyChef Catering of Naperville, will be served in the lobby during the musicians’ break, and families are also welcome to bring their own snacks to enjoy in the lobby.

Before the rehearsal begins, Elmhurst University music education students will offer interactive instrument demonstrations, allowing children to explore instruments up close. Inside the hall, DSO Music Director Barbara Schubert will lead the orchestra in rehearsal excerpts from its Echoes of the Past concert program, offering a glimpse into the creative process behind live performance. The atmosphere will remain relaxed, with partially raised lighting and an understanding that families may enter or exit as needed.

“This is truly a concert experience for everyone,” said Mari Ullrick, Strategic Director of Operations and Engagement for the DSO. “Our partnership with Emergent Learning Centers helps us create a space where families, whether attending their first concert or their fiftieth, can enjoy the power of live music in a warm, welcoming, and flexible environment.”

The event will also feature an Emergent Learning Centers sponsor table in the lobby, providing information and resources for families. ELC’s commitment to supporting youth with autism aligns with the DSO’s mission to bring the joy of symphonic music to every corner of the community.

About Emergent Learning Centers

Emergent Learning Centers recently opened its newest clinic in the heart of historic downtown Naperville, offering center-based, home-based, and community-based interventions rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The clinic provides a warm, engaging, and supportive environment where children and teens can learn and grow, guided by Ph.D.-level leaders in the field of behavior analysis. Each treatment plan is individualized to support language development, communication, cognitive skills, and meaningful social relationships, with compassionate, highly trained Registered Behavior Technicians supporting progress every step of the way.

Event details are as follows:
Sensory-Friendly Open Rehearsal
Thursday, November 13, 2025
7:30 PM (Lobby opens at 6:45 PM)
Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
Free admission; RSVP requested for head count: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36623/production/1251890