‘Mountains’ of Family Music

The Pacific Symphony’s 1995-96 season of family concerts begins Saturday with Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” and continues through June, when it ends with music of the two Ds: Dvorak and Disney.

The six-concert series, called “Scaling Music Mountains” and designed for children ages 4 to 13 and their parents, will also include a musical treasure hunt, a series of musical activities throughout the lobbies of the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

According to youth concert conductor Edward Cumming, each of the Saturday concerts takes place on an imaginary mountain: Families begin their season-long journey at the base and wind their way up to the panoramic view at the top.

The series:

* Oct. 14: “Peak-a-Boo,” with Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” and Gounod’s “Funeral March of a Marionette.”

* Dec. 16: “Alpine Holiday,” with Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” Lucas Richman’s “Hanukkah Festival Overture” and Danny Elfman’s suite from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

* Jan. 13: “Charge!,” with Franz von Suppe’s “Light Cavalry” Overture and Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.”

* March 2: “A Swiss Yodel,” with Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, selections from Richard Rodgers’ “The Sound of Music” and a yodeling competition for children.

* April 20: “Cliff Hanger,” with Hovhaness’ Symphony No. 2 and music from “Superman” and “The Rescuers Down Under.”

* June 1: “It’s a Whole a New World,” with Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony and the Disney tunes “It’s a Small World” and “A Whole New World.”

The Musical Treasure Hunt replaces the Wunderkinder Klub and is free to all ticket-holders. (The Wunderkinder Klub formerly met backstage in Founders Hall before each concert and had cost an additional $24.) All concerts begin at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The treasure hunt will begin at 9 a.m. for subscribers to the 10 a.m series and at 12:15 p.m. for those attending the 11:30 a.m. concerts.

Series of six concerts, $60 for adults, $48 for children under 14. (714) 755-5799.