MUSCATINE, Iowa — West Middle School seventh-grader Irene Jara is new to the cello, and she’s not the only person in her family to become interested in orchestra.

Saturday night, Jara and her family were among the 233 ticket holders for the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra concert, “Literary Greats.”

Jara, who began playing the cello this school year, came to the concert with her younger sister, Judy, and her parents, Erika and Kenny Jara.

“We’re here because of Irene,” said Erika. “As long as she wants to be in orchestra, I’m going to be part of it.”

The Jaras picked an eventful evening to attend the concert, which took place at the Muscatine Center for the Performing Arts.

The evening featured  the world premier of  composer David Stern’s “Symphony No. 2,” a piece Stern created in tribute to writers Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman.

Stern, of Los Angeles, was an instructor for Muscatine Symphony Orchestra conductor Brian Dollinger.

“Symphony No. 2” fit  the concert’s theme, as did a collaboration among the Symphony, the Muscatine Literacy Coalition and The Tree of Knowledge.

The Symphony hosted those groups Saturday evening as they gave free books to all children in the audience who were in grades eight and below.

Both literary groups and the Symphony are observing their 10th  anniversaries this year and in their honor, Muscatine Mayor Dick O’Brien proclaimed November as Literacy Month and recognized each organization.

Alphonzo Lawrence attended the concert as a guest of Rhonda Schau, a member of the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors.  Lawrence, who was visiting from Sierra Vista, Ariz., enjoys classical music and attends symphony concerts in his home state.

“The orchestra here has more members than I thought it would given the size of the city,” said Lawrence. “They did a

great job.”

Audience member Linda Lohse-Lange of Muscatine said one of the first things her family did when they moved back to Muscatine in 2008 was buy season tickets to the Symphony.

Lohse-Lange, who moved away from Muscatine in 1989, grew up here during the 1960-70s. She recalls attending a variety of live performances such as plays and concerts during those years.

“We attended so many concerts in this auditorium,” she said, referring to the Muscatine Center for the Performing Arts.  Audrey Terry of Muscatine began attending Symphony concerts four years ago, and said experiencing a live performance is rewarding.

“I enjoy watching the way they play their instruments and the feeling the musicians and conductor put into it,” she said.