World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma is coming to Portland’s Merrill Auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 10 – and Portland Public Schools high school orchestra students will have a unique opportunity to attend as Ma rehearses with the Portland Symphony Orchestra that day.

In an exclusive performance that evening, the Grammy-award-winning Ma will be appearing for the first time with the Portland Symphony Orchestra in celebration of its 100th anniversary season.

“Students will be able to watch the rehearsal process, which is an amazing learning opportunity,” said Ashley Terison, an orchestra educator at Lyman Moore Middle School and various elementary schools. “Tickets for the actual concert sold out within minutes, so it is extremely unlikely that students would have the opportunity to see this performer otherwise.”

Terison and the other teachers in the PPS orchestra department – Kim Robison, who teaches at King and Lincoln middle schools and various elementary schools; and Audrey Cabral and Abby Hutchins, high school orchestra teachers – asked Portland Symphony Education Coordinator McKenzie Blanchard for permission for students to attend the rehearsal. The symphony has approved attendance by all PPS high school orchestra students and their teachers on Oct. 10 at Merrill.

“We are extremely grateful to Mr. Ma and the Portland Symphony Orchestra for this extraordinary opportunity for our students,” Cabral said.