K-12 School Day Performances
Bring your classroom to life with a UMS School Day Performance!
Designed especially for schools and classrooms, UMS School Day Performances bring some of the world’s best performing artists to students for inspiring, imagination-fueling experiences that connect the arts with what they’re learning in the classroom.
From music and theater to modern dance and beyond, each performance gives students a chance to see, hear, wonder, and make connections. UMS learning guides provide fun, age-appropriate resources and activities to help educators prepare students for the experience and keep the learning going long after the final curtain.
Available to students from kindergarten through high school, School Day Performances are offered in person and digitally during the 2026/27 season.
Upcoming School Day Performances
School Day Performance
School Day Performance for Grades K-12:
Lupita Infante y su mariachi
Join us for the first School Day Performance of the 26-27 year with Lupita Infante for a concert blending mariachi, norteño, and ranchera styles with a modern twist!
School Day Performance
School Day Performance for Grades 2-12:
Andy Akiho & Sandbox Percussion
This electrifying School Day Performance with Sandbox Percussion introduces students to the exciting world of percussion using everything from drums and marimbas to unexpected everyday objects.
School Day Performance
School Day Performance for Grades 1-8
Marooned! A Space Comedy
Created by Alex and Olmsted
An astronaut crash-lands on a mysterious alien planet and, through puppetry, humor, and heartfelt storytelling, embarks on a strange and emotional journey to find her way home.
School Day Performance
School Day Performance for Grades 3-12:
C4 Trío
In this School Day Performance, the C4 Trío blends the bright sound of the cuatro with jazz, pop, and world music, creating energetic and accessible performances that show how one small instrument can sound incredibly big.
School Day Performance
School Day Performance for Grades 3-12
Titans of Brass
Get ready to hear some serious brass power! Members of the world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic brass section join brass leaders from major American orchestras for an unforgettable School Day Performance at Hill Auditorium.
School Day Performance
School Day Performance for Grades 9-12
300 Paintings
Created and performed by Sam Kissajukian
In this School Day Performance, comedian Sam Kissajukian shares how a manic episode that led him to create 300 paintings became a powerful show blending humor, storytelling, and art to explore creativity and mental health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome back to another school year! We recognize that you may have questions about protocols to assure the safety of audiences attending in-person School Day Performance events. We have put together a list of our most frequently asked questions below. If you have a question that doesn’t appear on this list, please feel free to reach out to our Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement, Terri Park, at tepark@umich.edu.
UMS will continue offering Digital and Livestreaming options for School Day Performances at no charge for our K-12 audience and the public.
When registration is open, ticket requests may be submitted at any time. However, ticket demand often exceeds availability and UMS reserves the right to cap ticket requests per school for each performance.
School Day Performance tickets are $7 for each student, teacher, or chaperone, unless otherwise noted (please allow at least one chaperone per 15 students). $6 tickets are available for schools where at least 50% of students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch. There is a 10-ticket minimum per performance.
A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required for your reservation.
All performances are subject to change or cancellation.
New Performance Playground units and additional Learning Guides will be added in the coming months, so check back later this fall to see the latest offerings.
School Day Performance Plus (SDP+)
UMS Artist Facilitators In Your Classroom
Formerly called pre- and post-show in-class workshops, SDP+ is presented in conjunction with UMS School Day Performances. UMS collaborates with highly skilled and knowledgeable artist facilitators to create an arts-integrated workshop that will prepare your students for the performance.
The 30-45 minute workshop (in-person or digital) connects directly to your school curriculum. Students actively explore, experience, and express the art form and themes from the performance right in your classroom. And the learning does not stop there — after the performance, the UMS artist facilitator returns to lead students in discussion to help them synthesize their learning experience.
Good news! These workshops are offered FREE of charge. When you register for a School Day Performance, please indicate if you are interested in having a UMS artist facilitator visit your classroom.
Ticket & Transportation Grants
Turn your next field trip into an unforgettable adventure! Thanks to the generous support of the U-M Credit Union and PNC Bank, UMS is able to offer Arts Adventures Grants to help K–12 schools and classrooms experience the excitement and inspiration of live performance.
From music and dance to theater and artists from around the world, UMS School Day Performances spark curiosity, strengthen classroom connections, and bring learning to life beyond the classroom walls. Grant funds can be used for transportation, School Day Performance tickets, or both!
Whether it’s your students’ first live performance or a favorite annual tradition, the Arts Adventures Grant helps make meaningful arts experiences possible for more schools across Michigan.
Important Dates & Application Information
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- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the 26-27 school year.
- Priority consideration is given to schools that apply before Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Please reserve your School Day Performance tickets BEFORE completing the grant application. Applications submitted without a ticket reservation are not eligible for funding.
- Applicants requesting transportation assistance need to secure bus transportation before submitting their application. A copy of the bus invoice must be submitted to Terri Park to be considered for full or partial reimbursement.
- Teachers are responsible for meeting all school or district deadlines related to permission slips, transportation requests, and other field trip requirements.
Eligibility Guidelines
Applicants must:
- Be from an accredited Michigan K–12 public or private school.
- Have a certified teacher serve as the primary contact.
- Use funding to attend a 2026–27 UMS School Day Performance. Funding cannot be transferred to a future season.
- A classroom may receive funding for one School Day Performance in the fall season and one School Day Performance in the winter season.
Funding is limited and in high demand. To ensure that funding reaches as many schools and students as possible, we may limit the number of funded reservations from an individual classroom or school.
Priority will be given to schools where one or more of the following apply:
- At least 50% of students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch.
- The classroom primarily serves students with disabilities or special needs.
- The school is attending a UMS School Day Performance for the first time.
- The school does not have a full-time arts/music teacher.
Other Possible Funding Sources
We recommend exploring the following funding opportunities to help defray the costs of field trips. Have a suggested addition to this list? Email us at umsyouth@umich.edu.
Arts and Culture Trek Grants (transportation)
MCACA Arts in Education Residency Program
Ann Arbor Awesome Foundation
Field Trip Grants from Target
The Meemic Foundation
Public School Foundations
Ann Arbor | Birmingham | Canton | Chelsea | Dearborn | Detroit | Dexter | Farmington/Farmington Hills | Monroe | Plymouth | Saline | Troy
Learning Guides
UMS Learning Guides help teachers extend the impact of our School Day Performances beyond the walls of the theater into the classroom. By providing educator-specific information about the performance, artist, genre, as well as resources and lesson plans, UMS strives to make meaningful connections between the performance and curriculum. The content and design of the guides are informed by the State of Michigan Education Standards and by our UMS K-12 Education Manager.
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