For the first time ever, Long Island Children’s Museum will host a family concert series aimed at introducing young audiences to a wide range of musical artists and styles over the coming months. The “Musical Explorers!” series will launch on November 30 and December 1 with GRAMMY-winning family funk sensation, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.
Get ready to embark on an unforgettable musical adventure! Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) announces an exciting new family concert series, Musical Explorers! This performance series will introduce young audiences to a diverse world of music, featuring an array of global sounds, cultures, and legends from the world of jazz, hip hop, Latin music, and more.
“Music is a universal language that connects us all, transcending borders, cultures and generations — it’s a core part of what makes us human,” explains LICM Theater Program Director James Packard. “Musical Explorers! offers our audiences the opportunity to dive deeper into the many ways that music speaks to us.”
In curating the inaugural series, Packard selected GRAMMY-winning artists and top talents in family music ensuring a diverse range of genres to reflect the power of music. “We encourage families to use these performances to introduce their children to the rhythms of Hip Hop, the soul of Jazz, and the vibrant beats of contemporary Latin music,” he adds.
Musical Explorers! kicks off with four performances (Nov 30 & Dec 1) by GRAMMY-winning family funk sensation, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, known for their electrifying blend of hip hop, science fiction-inspired storytelling and feel-good tunes. Prepare for a family-friendly experience that combines the raw energy of funk with the surreal magic of animation-inspired performance. Imagine a band with Jim Henson playing guitar or Shel Silverstein writing the bass lines and you’ve got Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, a group thatcaptivates kids and parents alike.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! Musical Explorers will continue throughout the year, with performances from some of the most acclaimed musicians in the world.
Upcoming performances include:
*Jazz at Lincoln Center (January 19 & 20, 2025) – The iconic Jazz at Lincoln Center quintet takes to the LICM stage to offer an exploration of “Louis Armstrong’s Great Migration.” Performances on January 19 & 20 features fun, recognizable music and addresses the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance as it covers Louis’s journey from New Orleans to Chicago and New York.
*Latin Grammy Winners 123 Andrés: Musical Explorers! expands to a globaloutlook as LICM welcomes 123 Andrés on June 1. This husband-and-wife duo’s vibrant blend of Latin rhythms and playful melodies garnered them the Best Children’s Music Album GRAMMY earlier this year; complementing the Best Latin Children’s Album GRAMMY they had received for their Arriba Abajo album. Their interactive bilingual performances speak to the joy, energy, and cultural richness of Latin America and get kids singing, clapping and dancing along to rhythms from across the Latin music spectrum.
Musical Explorers! is designed to engage young listeners through storytelling, participation, and diverse musical styles—from the infectious beats of hip hop to the smooth sounds of jazz and the rhythmic grooves of Latin music. This series of performances provides a unique opportunity for kids to immerse themselves in a world of rhythm, melody, and cultural appreciation, all within the welcoming environment of the LICM Theater.
Tickets for Secret Agent 23 Skidoo are priced at $11 with Museum admission ($9 for Museum members) or $15 Theater only and are available online at licm.org/theater or in person at Museum Box Office.
Musical Explorers! performances are sponsored by Roni Kohen-Lemle and Robert Lemle.
About the Long Island Children’s Museum (www.licm.org)
The mission of Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) is to connect all our communities’ children, and those who care for them, to a life of wonder, imagination and exploration. At LICM, children discover their passions and their relationship to the world we share. The 40,000-square-foot museum serves over 300,000 children and adults annually. The private, not-for-profit institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, offers museum-based educational programs and cultural experiences, as well as an extensive community outreach program offered in schools, libraries and youth centers across Long Island. Additionally, the Children’s Museum operates the historic Nunley’s Carousel in association with Nassau County, one of three intact Stein & Goldstein carousels still in existence.
Recognized with several honors, including the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), LICM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the gold standard of museum excellence. It is currently the only accredited children’s museum in New York State and is one of only 16 accredited children’s museums nationwide. LICM has earned 4-stars on Charity Navigator and has Platinum Transparency on Candid.