GSO delivers musical masterpiece in 30 minutes to 5-year-olds
GUELPH, ON January 13, 2026 — The beloved Park Eatery Kinderconcerts return with the second show this season. Curated for children five years and younger, these shows expose young minds to the power and beauty of music. Members of Guelph Symphony Orchestra (GSO) bring opera to toddlers with Carmen and the Bubblegum Factory on Saturday, February 7 at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. in River Run Centre’s Studio Theatre.
This playful story follows Carmen, a spunky girl who gets a job at a gum factory. The factory owner, Mr. Blubber, hires Carmen but is skeptical of what she can do for the factory’s low sales. Little does he know, she is about to brighten everyone’s prospects and turn the gum game around! This exciting escapade is set to music from the famous opera Carmen by Georges Bizet.
The show is performed by passionate, kid-friendly members of GSO who love encouraging the young audience to experience the magic of their instruments. They offer engaging and interactive performances, inviting children to sit closely and immerse themselves in the music. Afterwards, children are invited to meet the musicians and explore the instruments hands-on.
This season’s Kinderconcert narrator, Kween, delivers each of the stories with excitement and enchantment. Kween is a multidisciplinary artist, entrepreneur, activist, and performer.
At 30 minutes per show, Kinderconcerts are the perfect length to tickle a toddler’s curiosity — and hold their attention span. Education for youth is a large part of the programming focus at River Run, and Kinderconcerts are where it starts, curated for the youngest audiences.
This show is the second of three in the Park Eatery Kinderconcerts series, supported by Series Sponsor Park Eatery. The third and final installment of this year’s series is Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky, presented on March 28. These shows are also made possible through the generous support of returning Season Sponsor Richardson Wealth, as well as the Government of Canada.
Tickets to Kinderconcerts – Carmen and the Bubblegum Factory are $15 for adults, $13 for patrons over 60 and under 30 years old, and $11 for children 14 and under, including infants. For more information or to purchase, please call River Run Centre’s Box Office at 519-763-3000, visit 35 Woolwich Street in Guelph, or get details online at https://riverrun.ca/whats-on/kinderconcert-carmen-and-the-bubblegum-factory/.
FOR INFORMATION
Kasia Rusiniak | Program Manager, Development and Marketing
River Run Centre | City of Guelph
519-837-5662 ext. 2589
[email protected]