Orchestra members are preparing for the annual fall concert on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Dale E. Graham Auditorium, according to assistant orchestra director Elisabeth Ohly-Davis. Tickets are generally $5, but $3 for senior citizens and children.

William Chen, Symphony Orchestra member and senior, said he prepares for concerts by participating in full Symphony Orchestra rehearsals on Tuesdays, Sectional rehearsals on Thursdays, in-class rehearsals, and by practicing at home.

Chen said he thinks playing tests, which are usually recorded at home, are especially helpful in preparing for concerts. He said, “You are told to play a section at (a certain) tempo, so you have to make sure you can play a part as perfectly as you can. You want to bring it up to tempo. It’s forcing you to practice all aspects (of the music), from musicality to intonation to dynamics to tempo.”

In addition, the upcoming fall concert will be different from previous ones because Symphony will be playing more contemporary pieces in order to practice for its Midwest Clinic performance in December, according to Chen. “I’d prefer if we could play full symphonies, but we’re going to Midwest, so it doesn’t matter to me that we’re playing these (contemporary) pieces. I’m just glad that we have the ability to play for the Midwest (Clinic),” Chen said.

To read more about Symphony’s upcoming performance at the Midwest Clinic, click here.