Students and professionals are rosining their bows and tuning their strings in preparation for the Butler Symphony’s next concert March 4.

“The Inextinguishable” concert will feature performances by Butler Area School District students in the Side-by-Side Honors Symphony.

The Side-by-Side students are nominated by their teachers to perform a piece with the symphony’s professional musicians, John Furman, executive director, said. They will sit next to the principal players during the concert.

“It’s been several years of imagining (the program) and we’re hoping to build it,” Furman said.

The students will be performing a movement from “Finlandia“ by Jean Sibelius, he added. They orchestra will also perform Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, ”The Inextinguishable,“ and hear a piece from the collegiate concerto contest winner, Thomas Bachert, alto saxophonist.

“I think our orchestra is very attune with education outreach. A lot of them are teachers themselves,” he said.

The six students said at their first rehearsal that the “Finlandia” music seemed easy to learn.

Meghan Bortmes, a senior violinist, said she has 11 years experience with her instrument and is learning that there’s always room for improvement.

“You can always go above expectations,” she said. “Playing in a professional group can teach you different approaches to music.”

Ali Smith, a junior who’s been playing the cello for six years, said she performed in last year’s March concert.

“I’m expecting to have a lot of fun and learn from experienced musicians,” she said.

Nate Grossman, a senior trombonist, said the chance to perform with professionals will hopefully advance his music career.

“I hope this readies me for future opportunities,” he said.

“You may not know certain things but being able to have someone who’s been playing a lot longer than you have is a great toll to have under your belt and could help in the future,” Meghan said.

She added that she hopes concert attendees appreciate the effort from the students as well as the professionals.

“I hope audiences take away how great the Butler music program is and how talented a couple of high schoolers can be with just a few days of preparation with the symphony and a whole lot of preparation on their own,” she said.

The concert will also recognize 86 county students deemed Young Musicians of Note by their teachers.