The professional members of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra have been joined by students from more than a dozen schools across the ACT, coming together to celebrate the Centenary of Canberra over the weekend.

The Noteworthy Centenary concert brought together 45 students to perform the second movement of Andrew Schultz's specially commissioned work ‘Century’, the students and professionals had been rigorously practicing the piece in the week's lead-up. The concert also featured works by Handel, Beethoven, Borodin, Tchaikovsky and Debussy, it was put on as part of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra's music education program.

The Canberra Symphony Orchestra invited all students at ACT schools to experience the grandeur of a full-sized orchestra. Conductor Warwick Potter said: “For sure, they have some fantastic teachers and some great instrumental programs, but it is not every day of the week they would have a professional conductor working with them, so it is educational and exciting for all of us... not many of these students would have played with me before and every conductor has his or her own idiosyncrasies to deal with.”

Students involved said just the rehearsals had been an incredible learning experience. Before the concert, Trombone player Josh Freeman said: “it has been great fun and although I am still a bit nervous for the performance, it has been a good experience to be part of.”

Emily Mullamphy of St Clare's College, Manuka, says playing the violin in the performance was easily be the best part of her young musical career: “The best thing about being involved is you get to learn a lot more from people who are older and more experienced," she said, “they have taught us a lot of things about the music and the social side has been really nice so far too."

Information on The Noteworthy Centenary Symphony Concert and other Canberra Centenary events is available from www.canberra100.com.au