At any given Symphony Center concert, you will observe some concertgoers dressed up and others dressed more casually. Many patrons wear business attire or casual business attire. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Many people prefer the first balcony as the best seats in the house--for the sound quality as well as view of the orchestra.

For a view of the conductor: The Orchestra View seats (also known as bench seats that are located above and behind the stage) will give you a good view of the maestro's face. Some folks even say that sitting here feels like you're in the orchestra. Bench seats are available for select concerts.

One reason orchestra managements give when asked why a dress code is necessary is that they want their musicians to present a uniform appearance to the audience. It's been customary to define that 'uniform appearance' to mean full formal dress: white tie and tails for men, and long black gowns or pantsuits for women.