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The sweetest sounds of the season are likely to be made by the smallest new musicians in Cookeville: The girls and boys of the Community Youth String Orchestra, which makes its public debut at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Wattenbarger Auditorium at Tennessee Tech University. There’s no admission charge to attend the concert, but in the spirit of the season, any donations of non-perishable food or household items would be welcome; donations will go to Helping Hands of Putnam County.



Tuesday’s concert program, the first on a professional stage for the children, includes holiday music. Joining the young musicians on stage are their three teachers, the members of the Atlantic Trio: violinist Wei Tsun Chang of the TTU music faculty, violist Seanad Chang and cellist Kirsten Greer.



The new ensemble is a collaboration of professional musicians with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at Tennessee Tech University, music educators in Putnam County Schools and the Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association Board of Directors and its community engagement program.



The 45 members of the new Community Youth String Orchestra, a group of 4th grade children learning to play the violin and cello, began rehearsal just three months ago. The ensemble is the natural extension of last year’s pilot strings program in Putnam County Schools that has put violins and cellos in the hands of 3rd and 4th graders for the first time in a generation. The new strings program is coordinated by PCS music specialist and BSOA board member Clarissa Miller.



The Community Youth String Orchestra is funded through a community engagement grant to the BSOA from Averitt Express.