SALISBURY— The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra welcomed the North Carolina Symphony to Keppel Auditorium at Catawba College on Oct. 10 for this year’s Education Concerts.

This annual tradition brings all the Rowan-Salisbury School System’s fifth-graders to hear repertoire selected especially for them.

This year, an estimated 1,300 students were in attendance, said Elizabeth Cook, Salisbury Symphony’s education director, in a release.

During the concerts, the musicians showcase each instrument family by displaying the instruments and playing music with those instruments. The full orchestra also performs pieces demonstrating musical elements including rhythm, tempo, dynamics, texture and form.

Fifth-graders were invited to sing “America, the Beautiful” as the orchestra played. Elementary music specialists prepared their students with resources provided by the North Carolina Symphony to create an exciting learning experience.

Joseph Peters served as the conductor for this year’s education concert.