Those looking for a classical concert can follow the harmonious sounds of 70 student musicians comprising the percussion, brass, woodwind and string sections of the Grand Valley State University Symphony Orchestra on Friday.

The group will hold its debut concert of this school year at 8 p.m. in the Louis Armstrong Theatre of the Performing Arts Center.

While practicing about four hours every week since the beginning of the school year, the young group has steadily improved to be performance-ready.

“I’m very pleased with how they’re coming along,” said Henry Duitman, orchestra conductor. “For over 50 percent, this is their first time in the orchestra … we are a very young group.”

The orchestra will play four pieces, one of which is not on the program. The opening piece by Mozart will be for the chamber orchestra made up of the stringed instruments. After that, the hour-long concert will follow the program with selections by a variety of composers.

First will be the Nabucco Overture by Verdi. Duitman described it as a “powerful” song with a melody that will be familiar to most. The central piece of the concert will be Symphony No. 8 by Beethoven. Ending the program will be a selection for the violinists, titled Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1, by Enesco.

Duitman said all students and faculty would enjoy Friday’s free concert.

Oboist Cassie Negron, a sophomore, said she is looking forward to the performance. Negron joined the orchestra her freshman year, and she said she has put a lot of work into preparing for Friday’s concert.

“Playing in the orchestra itself is about four hours every week,” she said. “But I also practice my music outside of rehearsal every day. Running over tricky passages is often necessary to keep it in my fingers and brain, even if I can already play it. Outside of just practicing orchestra music, I practice a lot of basic technique/etudes/solo work at least two hours a day.”

More experienced musician Kyla Witt, a senior, said the orchestra has been a significant part of her GVSU experience.

“After being accepted into Grand Valley’s Department of Music, I was encouraged by the faculty to audition for the orchestra,” Witt said. “As an aspiring professional orchestral musician, it was naturally my heart’s intent to join as well.”

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