Megan Bousliman said her front-row seat close to the musicians was the best in the house for the Helena Symphony’s annual youth concert Thursday.

“I sort of like the music,” the fifth-grader at St. Andrew School admitted with a sheepish smile.

Maestro Allan Scott, along with symphony musicians and longtime Helena music teachers Barb Berg and Don Stone, orgainized this year’s performance, “Peter VS. the Wolf,” by Justin Locke, specifically for elementary students. The courtroom comedy is based on the classic, “Peter and the Wolf,” and features the music from the Sergei Prokofiev composition.

This is the third year Bousliman has attended the concert, which is sponsored by the Student Assistance Foundation and local parent-teacher associations from each of the elementary schools.

Bousliman sat properly in her school uniform and braided pigtails, anticipating the sounds of the instruments.

“I like the violins and the cellos,” she said. “I have friends that play and they show me their songs.”

The wolf is on trial for eating a duck and recounts the famous story while introducing the elements of music and the orchestra to the students.

“This is a critical time in the music education of these students,” said Berg, who is also the symphony’s principal flute player.

“This program solidifies so much of what they have learned in the classroom for several years, and it helps prepare for middle school where they will take part in band, orchestra and choruses — this concert is the final culmination of their elementary school music education,” she said.

Ian Fitzgerald, a Jefferson Elementary School fifth-grader, said the orchestra is “really cool” to watch.

Fitzgerald plays the piano and the accordion. He watched raptly, possibly thinking of being on the stage himself one day.

“It’s exciting this year with the actors included because it’s challenging for the musicians,” he said.

Kelly Chapman, vice president of the Student Assistance Foundation, welcomed the students before the performance began.

“Music is an important part of the lives of the musicians you see on stage,” she said. “Who knows, you might decide you want to play in the Helena Symphony some day.”

Keith Meyer, assistant superintendent for the Helena School District, looked just as excited as the students as they filed into the Helena Civic Center.

The audience included some 2,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Helena, Clancy, Montana City, East Helena, Augusta, Townsend, Lincoln and Boulder.

“This has been a tradition for over 20 years,” Meyer said.

“As a member of the symphony board, we just want to continue to support this,” he said. “We are energized and it’s something we look forward to every spring. As a district, we feel it is important to support our symphony and give this opportunity to our students.”

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com