Star Wars, James Bond, Frozen music and more at free family summer concert in Sunderland

There’s plenty of iconic music in store at a free family concert this weekend.

Sunderland Symphony Orchestra is fine tuning its instruments to host its Summer Concert from 6.30pm on Saturday, July 18 at St Gabriel’s Church in Chester Road.

Musical Director David Milner will lead a lively programme of popular favourites, offering plenty of audience participation and opportunities for children to join in with the music.

The Family Concert will feature music from Star Wars, Frozen, James Bond, Jurassic Park, YMCA, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, The Waltzing Cat, The Liberty Bell, Under the Sea and Pirates of the Caribbean.

David said: “It’s exciting news, Sunderland Symphony Orchestra’s summer concert will be a family concert.

“We would love lots of children to bring their grown-ups along for a fun packed and entertaining evening of appealing well-known music from highly popular films.

“Lots of audience participation, a chance to dress as your favourite character from the music or you could bring a favourite toy, the bigger the dinosaur the better!”

David Milner and the orchestra invite the audience to join in as occasional percussionists, encourage children to dress as characters from the music, and look forward to a lively singalong of YMCA.

The SSO Family Concert is free but ticketed, with a retiring collection to support the orchestra’s work in the city.

Mark Greenfield, relational lead for SSO, said the musicians are eagerly looking forward to a special family concert where children and their families can enjoy a fun-filled programme of family-friendly music, experience the excitement of a live orchestra, and even become part of it for the evening.

Tickets for the SSO ‘Family Concert’ will be available from June 20 2026 by visiting https://sunderlandso.eventbrite.co.uk