The Coeur d'Alene Symphony will open its 2012/13 season with a Celtic flavored concert, "Scotland Forever!" on Oct. 12, with a second show Oct. 13 at the Kroc Center.

Both are expected to sell out for what is billed as "classical treatment of Scottish music."

"We hope our audience will get into the spirit of the evening and wear a touch of plaid - kilts not required, but your sense of adventure is," said a press release.

First on this concert will be the Hebrides Overture, perhaps better known as "Fingal's Cave," by Felix Mendelssohn. This piece was inspired by a cavern on Staffa, off the coast of Scotland. This short piece is programmatic - evoking scenes of the ocean and the stunning beauty of the caverns.

Concertmaster Dr. Philip Baldwin is featured in Bruch's Scottish Fantasy. This Romantic era piece for solo violin and orchestra is based on Scottish folk melodies, many of which are immediately recognizable.

In keeping with the Scottish tradition, the harp, played by local artist Leslie Stratton-Norris, has a prominent role throughout the piece.

The concert concludes with Mendelssohn's Third Symphony, the "Scottish." This grand work is comprised of four movements, alternating from huge and brooding to spritely and dance like.

Dr. Baldwin is the concertmaster and assistant conductor of the Coeur d'Alene Symphony, and has appeared as violin soloist in concertos by Samuel Barber and Henry Wieniawski, and in Beethoven's Triple Concerto with David Demand and Max Held.

Baldwin is director of string studies and associate professor of violin at Whitworth University. His career has spanned the spectrum of string teaching and conducting. He and his wife, Dorothy, also a violinist and educator, have given violin master classes in England and Ireland, and throughout Washington, Maryland and Utah.

In his free time, he is an avid runner, triathlete and tries to keep up with his three sons.

Tickets are available for the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra's "Scotland Forever" concerts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 and 2 p.m. Oct. 13.

"It's exciting to do more than one show because this is great music," said Jill Cathey, spokeswoman and oboe performer for the symphony.

It is the symphony's first performance at the Kroc Center, which is a great venue, said symphony supporter Robert Bittick.

He said the symphony is gaining followers as it enters the 2012/2013 season.

About 1,000 took in the free Labor Day concert at Coeur d'Alene City Park.

"Folks are coming out," Bittick said.

For tickets, www.cdasymphony.org, Burt's Music at 12th and Sherman, or Great Harvest Bread, 2106 N. Government Way.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $8 for youth and students with an ID.

Tickets are also available for the Messiah Sing-Along on Dec. 1 and the Black & White Ball on Jan. 19. Ball tickets are $25 per person and are no longer providing dinner.

Season tickets are available at cdasymphony.org or by calling the symphony office, 765-3833, and also at the door.