The two-act performance will begin  at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Big Spring Municipal Auditorium and symphony conductor Dr. Keith Graumann is more than a little enthused.

“We are tremendously excited to once again present what may be the world’s most well-known ballet,” said Graumann. “Tchaikovsky’s music for the ballet is magnificent and much of it will be familiar to the audience. Excerpts are heard daily on television and radio.

“Much of the music is also very difficult, but our orchestra is very capable and anxious to perform it for you. And, exposing the wonderful plot onstage through dance will definitely make for a memorable evening.”

The music is only part of the colorful performance.

“We are fortunate to have the Midland Festival Ballet company as our guest artists for the evening,” said Graumann. “The co-artistic directors of the ballet are Judy Coleman, the founder, and Susan Clark. They maintain and operate the ballet studio in Midland in which most of the 80 dancers have been trained.”

Local talent will be utilized as well.

“I am especially pleased to have a number of Big Spring dancers performing this year.  Students of Stevi McKinnon, owner of the Dance Gallery, auditioned and were accepted into the Midland Festival Ballet Nutcracker company,” Graumann explained. “These students, with help from Stevi, family and friends, have traveled to Midland each week since August to rehearse the 'Nutcracker.'”

Those special dance students include Alyssa Deanda, Bari Green, Destiny Mata, Carly Morris, Maddi Miller, Megan Magallanes and Bailee Grant.

Corporate sponsors for the event, and, indeed, the symphony season, are the Citizens Federal Credit Union and Alon USA.

“We are indebted to the sponsors who agreed to assist with the considerable financial burden,” said Graumann, who also praised the Big Spring Symphony board of directors, association members and the Dora Roberts Foundation.

This is the second subscription performance of the 2008-2009 concert season, “Times to Remember.”

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $5 for students and are available at the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce, Blum’s Jewelers, the Big Spring Herald, Faye’s Flowers, First Bank of West Texas and the Midland Festival Ballet.

For more information on Saturday's performance, call the symphony office at (432) 264-7223.