PORTLAND — The Portland Symphony Orchestra will kick off its KinderKonzerts this season with a series of Woodwind KinderKonzerts. To celebrate the PSO’s 90th anniversary and the launch of a three-year Beethoven Symphony Cycle, the woodwind, brass, and strings KinderKonzerts planned for 2014-2015 season will focus on the music and life of Ludwig von Beethoven.

The PSO woodwinds will look at Beethoven’s life starting with his childhood and earliest compositions through later in life, his struggles with the loss of his hearing and his overcoming that to create incredible symphonies.

There will be six Woodwind KinderKonzerts this season:

At the Main Branch of the Portland Public Library, Portland:

Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 11:15 a.m.

At the Crooker Theatre, Brunswick HS, Brunswick:

Thursday, Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

At the Franco Center, Lewiston:

Thursday, Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 6 at 10:30 a.m.

These interactive concerts, geared toward children ages 4-8, serve as an introduction to live orchestral music and allow children to explore the different families of orchestral instruments, including brass, strings, woodwinds and percussion, which are all featured in individual concerts.

With each KinderKonzert ensemble (Brass, Winds, Strings), audiences will learn unique characteristics of the instrument family and experience different concerts. Children will benefit from attending multiple performances by engrossing themselves in a familiar theme, approached through the eyes of several different musicians.

Concerts last about 40 minutes and cost $5 per ticket which can be purchased online. For further information call 207-773-6128 ext. 308 or email education@portlandsymphony.org.