The Gainesville Symphony Orchestra will team up with local youth to perform the Spring Fusion Concert on Saturday.

The performance will be a first of many sorts, according to Candace Monnerie, executive director of The Gainesville Symphony Orchestra.

"This is going to be a very unique experience. It will be the first time we've performed a fusion concert with the youth orchestra. Also, it will be the first time that the youth symphony has performed on stage," Monnerie said.

The concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pearce Auditorium on the Brenau University Campus.

Monnerie reflected on the events leading up to the upcoming performance.

"It was my vision for some time to get more engaged in the community and get involved in the education process. I wanted to create a youth symphony and develop a mentoring program for the schools," Monnerie said.

Plans for a fusion concert have been in the works for some time. Auditions were held in January to decide the composition of youth members. The Gainesville Youth Orchestra began playing in February to prepare for the fusion show.

In addition to the previously unseen youth symphony, the performance will be the first time the GSO has performed some of the pieces publicly.

Dr. Jason Altieri will serve as a guest conductor, which Monnerie says is exciting to members of the orchestra. Altieri has an extensive background in music, conducting performances all over the country as well as China and Europe.

The repertoire will include: Felix Mendelssohn's "War March," Domenico Cimerosa's "Concerto for Flute in G major," Franz Schubert's "Symphony "Unfinished" No. 8, Leonard Bernstein's "Selections from West Side Story" and Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera"

Saturday's performance marks the end of the season for the GSO, and the performers are hoping for a great turnout.