COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra members are shining their brass and tuning their strings in preparation for the orchestra's season opener, taking place Oct. 10 and 11 at the Kroc Center.

The first concert weekend of the 2014-2015 season will feature concertmaster Dr. Philip Baldwin and principal violist Jay Prior performing Mozart's "Symphonie Concertante" on instruments handcrafted by Prior, who is a master luthier with Custom Strings in Spokane Valley.

"I think it would be great to share these two particular people playing this solo," said Jill Cathey, oboe player and public relations representative of the symphony. "Most people have heard Mozart, he's a famous guy. There's a reason his music is still around and still so popular. This is a great duet between the viola and the violin."

The instruments were made especially for the symphony and will be auctioned toward the end of the season. The proceeds will benefit the symphony, which is a nonprofit organization.

"These two lovely fellows are actually playing these instruments that (Prior) made, which is really unusual. I don't know any orchestra that's ever done it," Cathey said. "What a cool thing, and he's a craftsman right here in this area."

The first concert will include the Mozart piece, Anton'n Dvorak's "Symphony No. 8" and Gioachino Rossini's familiar "La Gazza Ladra," or "Thieving Magpie Overture."

"The cool thing about 'Thieving Magpie,' it's still used all the time," Cathey said. "It's in lots of things. It's on commercials, it's very popular."

The season opener is the beginning of a five-concert series which includes a Christmas performance, a family fun show, a winner's concert and the season finale.

Christmas at the Kroc on Dec. 5 and 6 will include holiday favorites such as a musical narration of "The Night Before Christmas," music from Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" and more.

"I think that is always a good concert," Cathey said. "It's usually well-attended, it's just such a fun thing. It's a little earlier than some of the other Christmas things, so you can kick off your season and get in the mood."

Following the Christmas concert is Family Fun at the Symphony Jan. 23 and 24, an evening that will include music from "Frozen" and other family films. It will be free for kids 18 and younger.

The Winner's Concert will be March 13 and 14 and will feature several young artists from all over the country who will compete to play in the concert. The competition prior to the concert is free.

The 2014-2015 season will end with a season finale May 1 and 2. It will feature a soloist and Brahms' "Symphony No. 2."

"Brahms is a huge monster work that's big and bombastic," Cathey said. "People will be all fabuloused-out if they go."

The Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra, in its 36th year, comprises about 70 members, although during certain numbers only about 40 remain on the stage. Members range from college age to seniors.

Cathey said a huge focus this year is on local musicians and talent right here in the Inland Northwest.

"They're like superheroes in disguise," she said. "We are trying to reach out to our community and use local people. We're using a local artist for our publicity, we're using this local luthier who has made these instruments and they're all benefitting the symphony, all the people in the orchestra are local people coming in to play for basically nothing or very little. It's a local effort to make a beautiful creation."

Individual concert tickets are $27 for adults, $21 for seniors and $16 for students and youths. Season tickets are $135 for adults, $105 for seniors and $64 for youths. Tickets are available at the Coeur d'Alene Symphony office, at the door of the concert as available and at www.cdasymphony.org.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center is located at 1765 W. Golf Course Road.