Empowering Educators to Inspire Through Music
The Stockton Symphony is committed to supporting educators in their efforts to bring the power of music into the classroom. Whether you’re a music teacher, a classroom educator, or a school administrator, our resources are designed to enhance your curriculum, inspire your students, and create meaningful learning experiences through the magic of symphonic music.
2026 Steppin’ Out Concert- CONNECTIONS @ THE SYMPHONY
Live performances of Steppin’ Out with the Stockton Symphony have returned! If you and your students haven’t yet experienced this event, you should know that the Steppin’ Out series has provided highly educational and engaging programs to thousands of enthusiastic youngsters each season for twenty-five years. And if you and your class(es) are returning, you know you can always expect lively rapport with the audience from Maestro Peter Jaffe, who designs, conducts, and hosts this signature educational/outreach series.
This season’s Steppin’ Out theme is Connections @ The Symphony—exploring fascinating tie-ins to common core standards through music’s lens. Engaging tunes include Brazil (geography), Danse bohème (math and time), And God Created Great Whales (biology), Olympic Fanfare (sports), and The Great Gate of Kyiv (visual arts). And hooking into literature, America’s Got Talent winner Brandon Leake takes the spotlight with a world premiere of a spoken word piece with the whole orchestra!
We enhance the experience with advance materials including our colorful Steppin’ Out Times, a Teacher’s Guide, and sound clips—all to be posted on our website.
Teachers—Six performances to choose from; contact the Symphony office to register your students soon!
- Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | Atherton Auditorium, Delta College, Stockton | 9:45 am and 11:15 am
- Wednesday, January 29, 2026 | Atherton Auditorium, Delta College, Stockton | 9:45 am and 11:15 am
- Thursday, January 30, 2025 | Hutchins Street Square, 2025 Hutchins St. Square, Lodi | 9:15 am and 10:45 am
About Steppin’ Out Educational Concerts
Steppin’ Out Educational Concerts introduce fourth- and fifth-grade students to symphonic music and the instruments of the orchestra. Steppin’ Out serves multiple school districts throughout San Joaquin County including Lincoln Unified, Stockton Unified, Lodi Unified and Manteca Unified. A beloved program with educators county-wide, the Steppin’ Out program serves over 6,000 each year.
Stockton Symphony’s Steppin’ Out concerts have provided highly educational and entertaining programs to enthusiastic young audiences for more than two decades. It is through the generosity of our donors and grants from community partners that Steppin’ Out is able to introduce children to the wonder and beauty of symphonic music.
Resources
Students
Each student who attends a Steppin’ Out concert will receive a copy of the Steppin’ Out Times. The engaging publication is a full color, newspaper-style activity guide packed with information about the orchestra, musical program, composers, and fun and challenging activities including a word-search puzzle and more!
Teachers
The Teacher’s Guide includes connections to Common Core Standards and information about the orchestra, music, and audience etiquette. Registered teachers will receive an email with links to the Teacher’s Guide and to the audio files of the concert selections to enhance lesson planning.
Steppin’ Out Concert Sponsors
- Judith and Patrick Hobin
- Estate of Pamela Kitto
- Edward and Nancy Schneider
- San Joaquin Delta College
Thank you to all of our generous partners!
Letters from Students
