For the young students of PRYSM, the premier PYO Music Institute ensemble for beginner and intermediate string students ages 6-17, there is a palpable feeling of excitement in the air. These young musicians are hard at work preparing to present their 8th Annual Festival Concert on Saturday, May 16, at 3 p.m., in Centennial Hall at The Haverford School, 450 Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA. Performing under the direction of esteemed conductor and Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Gloria dePasquale, PRYSM’s musicians will be joined by the up-and-coming students of PRYSM Young Artists, conducted by Jessica Villante.

The concert lineup will include the light and cheerful composition Serenade for Strings by Josef Suk; selections from Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings, which the composer described as his favorite composition; and Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, a complex and diverse composition that was inspired by authentic Romanian folk music.

Maestra DePasquale looks forward to the 8th Annual Festival Concert with equal parts pride and enthusiasm. “Our young musicians have really dedicated themselves to mastering what are extraordinarily challenging compositions for students of this age,” she explains. “We are thrilled to provide them an opportunity to share with the audience what they have accomplished this season.”

Tickets for PRYSM’s 8th Annual Festival Concert are available for $15/general admission by calling 215.545.0502.