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For the past eight years, a North Carolina Symphony concert has been an annual tradition for Bronwyn Bartle and her family.

Each December, Bartle, her mother, aunt, husband and two sons dress in their holiday best and visit Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh to enjoy the Holiday Pops concert.

While taking in jolly orchestral music from her usual spot in the middle section of the 1,750-seat venue’s balcony, the concert keeps Bartle connected with her own musical roots.

“Way earlier in my life I used to play the cello, so I definitely love going to it,” said Bartle, a nurse practitioner who has worked at Duke for 22 years. “It has become a holiday tradition for us to go and listen to it; it’s fun.”

Over the years, , the Duke staff and faculty discount program, has helped the Bartle family make fond memories. While each regular-price ticket is $60, Duke employees receive that makes each ticket $42. With six tickets to buy, the discount of $18 per person makes a difference.

“With that many people going, we’re essentially getting more than two tickets for free using the discount.” Bartle said. “Anytime you can have a perk or a discount, it’s great to make that a little bit more affordable.”

Duke staff and faculty can purchase discount tickets to the Classical and Pops performances through this year as the North Carolina Symphony returns to in-person performances.

Classical performances include the compositions of Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin and more. The Symphony will also host "The Best of Broadway" in March; “ABBA: The Concert” in April and “Women Rock” in May.

For the schedule and discount tickets, visit .

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