A world-renowned symphony and ballet, gifted musicians from around the world, award-winning children’s performers…it’s all in your own backyard at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion during the 2011 Performing Arts Season. Free seating at all performing arts events makes experiencing the arts affordable for you and your family. This season encompasses a journey filled with classical music, dancing, tributes to late, great musicians, patriotic fanfare, Italian pop and more. Eight exhilarating performances by the Houston Symphony include Dvorák’s Cello Concerto and Brahms’ Violin Concerto, two classical masterpieces conducted by Maestro Hans Graf. Family-oriented concerts, which are great opportunities to bring the whole family, include Out of This World and Dancin’ with the Symphony conducted by Robert Franz. Michael Krajewski conducts the symphony’s exciting pops concerts that include “Let the Good Times Roll” – The Music of Ray Charles, the annual Star-Spangled Salute and Poperazzi, featuring a fabulous “pop-opera” vocal trio. The Texas Music Festival Orchestra returns to the stage with a free concert featuring more than 100 gifted musicians from around the world. Houston Ballet takes the stage for a mixed-repertory program titled Contemporary Masters, featuring three very dynamic ballets by three of the top choreographers in the industry. And the 16th Annual Children’s Festival erupts with family fun and award-winning children’s performers in the fall. Have a picnic on the hill or in your seat at any of these performing arts events. The Pavilion welcomes guests to bring picnics into the venue, but keep in mind that beverages cannot be brought in. Free lawn chairs also are available at all performing arts events or bring a blanket, kick back and relax beneath the stars. For more information about the 2011 performing arts season, or a full list of events at The Pavilion, visit www.woodlandscenter.org. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, a nonprofit regional performing arts venue, is located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands, Texas. The Woodlands is a master-planned community of approximately 90,000 residents located 27 miles north of downtown Houston.