Santa Barbara Strings will present its Spring Concert, 4 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the Music Academy of the West.

More than 70 young string players from across Santa Barbara County have been rehearsing for months on a program featuring works by Handel, Britten, Mendelssohn, Respighi, J.C. Bach, and Telemann.

Santa Barbara Strings musicians perform under the direction of Mary Beth Woodruff. (Courtesy photo)
Santa Barbara Strings musicians perform under the direction of Mary Beth Woodruff. (Courtesy photo)

The concert includes the company’s three tiered string orchestras under the baton of artistic director Mary Beth Woodruff. Also performing will be students from the Early Strings Training Program.

Tickets are $30 for adults (collected at the door); admission is free for children.

Santa Barbara Strings is a nonprofit group providing comprehensive training for musicians ages 4-19 years in three progressive levels of string orchestras and chamber ensembles.

Recent graduates of Santa Barbara Strings orchestra program are attending the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, and the Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles.

“Open to all students, Santa Barbara Strings aims to inspire life-long understanding and appreciation of classical music of all eras,” the organization said.

For more about how to join, or how to support exceptional string music education, visit www.santabarbarastrings.org.