Modesto Symphony Home Stay Program

The MSO Home Stay Program enables the Symphony to more effectively compete for musicians with larger orchestras by providing free lodging.  While each family that provides lodging may do it a bit differently, the following are general guidelines.

Length of Stay

The typical classics concert has rehearsals on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and performances on Friday and Saturday evenings. Some musicians will arrive at your house before the Wednesday afternoon rehearsal (which starts at 7:30 pm), others arrive after the rehearsal (which ends at 10:00 pm). Most musicians leave immediately after the Saturday evening concert, although occasionally one may wish to stay until Sunday morning. So the typical stay is Thursday and Friday nights.

Some Pops concerts and Picnic at the Pops have only one performance. The typical stay in this case would be just Thursday evening (Friday evening for Picnic at the Pops).

There are a total of 10 concerts during the season. You can make your house available for all of the concerts or you can choose which dates to participate based on your schedule and situation.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms

Host families should provide a private bedroom and bathroom for the musician. If you have more than one bedroom available, but only one bathroom, then you either need to take all male or all female musicians. Occasionally the host family may have one bedroom with two beds. When musicians sign up for the program they are asked if they are willing to share a room. Most prefer a private bedroom, but it is always possible that a room might be shared.

Musicians are also asked whether or not they smoke, and if so, inside or just outside.  You can choose to have musicians who do not smoke, those who do, or those who only smoke outside.

Male/Female

If you are willing to take only male or only female musicians this will be accommodated.

Keys

Most families provide their musicians with house keys. This makes it much easier for the musicians to come and go without impacting your schedule. However, if you are uncomfortable with giving out keys, and are willing to be at your home when the musician will be coming and going, that is certainly acceptable. Be aware that sometimes musicians get together after the Friday evening concert and can arrive at your house relatively late.

Food

Host families have no obligation to feed their musician and most musicians provide for their own meals while in Modesto. What most host families do is have food available, especially for breakfast, if the musician so chooses. 

Transportation

Host families have no obligation to provide transportation for the musician.