AKRON, Ohio - North High School's winter concert, which features five Akron Symphony Orchestra members, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 in the North High School auditorium. Admission is free.

Symphony members Amy Cave, Kimia Ghaderi and Ann Smith (violin), Paul Miahky (cello), and Ann Gilbert (principal bass) have been working with students to prepare for the concert. It's the third year the Akron Symphony has partnered with the school for the concert, but the first year that symphony members will be participating in the concert.

"The kids are very excited that the symphony members are actually going to perform with us," North High School Director of Music and Drama Rich Eder said. "We have seen the symphony perform, and of course we've performed, but the excitement of combining the two is like unmeasurable data for these kids,"

The expanded partnership was funded by a grant the Akron Symphony received from the League of American Orchestras.

In addition to helping hone their music skills, working with symphony members has helped students see firsthand what it's like to make a living playing an instrument, Eder said.

"You can tell them [what it's like], but it doesn't always translate," he said.

Eder hopes that by conveying the value the program has for students, and for Akron Symphony members, the partnership can be sustained long term.

The concert will feature winter song selections and a more difficult song the students will perform again in February at their district performance.

The school orchestra will open the program, followed by the choir and then the band.

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