When the doors close on the Indian Springs School Concert Hall Jan. 24, audience members can expect to hear a melodic blending of voice and instrument.

The Indian Springs School Concert Choir and Alabama Youth Symphony will perform a joint concert of Haydn’s “Te Deum” at 3 p.m. Jan. 24.

ISS Choir Director Tim Thomas said performing with the orchestra expands the piece for students.

“It adds color to the sound they are used to hearing. It makes it expressive in a different level,” Thomas said. “The music is already beautiful, but with the orchestra performing with them it can affect them on a different emotional level. They can truly hear the way the composer intended the piece to sound.”

The piece, Hadyn’s second “Te Deum,” is a song of praise and its text can be found as far back as the middle ages.

Thomas said the piece has an unusual power to it and is energetic, something he believes resonates with students.

He said its variety also keeps students engaged in the piece.

Senior Elliot Bell, president of the choir, said members of the choir feel very strongly about their art.

“Here at Indian Springs, our choir is our football team so to speak — we take what we do very serious,” Bell said. “It provides an opportunity for our school community to come together.”

About 105 of the 300 students at ISS sing with the choir.

Bell’s been a member since he was a freshman and while he said the choir in general adds to each student’s education, performing with a symphony made of his peers adds to the experience.

“It’s nice to be able to make music with individuals your own age — it allows for somewhat of a collective growth,” Bell said. “With a plethora of instruments on stage it also adds a new element, a new dimension of life to the music.”

The choir and symphony practice together just one time before the big concert.

The students also work diligently with their own groups to perfect each note.

This performance enhances each student’s overall education, Thomas said.

He said there have been studies showing students exposed to music tend to perform better on left-brained tasks. He said by taking on the challenging pieces they perform, students learn persistence.

“Learning to take a task that is very challenging and pursuing it with any consistency can help them with any life endeavor that is particularly difficult,” he said.

He said music education could even enhance a student’s learning in other areas of study, such as math and science.

Senior Caroline Thrasher said she believes the concert will prove enjoyable for any music enthusiast.

“It’s something special to hear all of these talented musicians and singers on the stage together,” she said.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Thomas at tthomas@indiansprings.org or 332-0612.