As some students enter college, their instrument-playing days -- formerly days filled with sheet music and endless practices -- come to a close as these former musicians focus on other priorities.

However, the Sinfonietta Or-chestra (Music 297C) is a class offered through the School of Mu-sic that gives non-music majors, ranging from freshmen to seniors, the chance to continue playing.

At 8 tonight in Esber Recital Hall, the Sinfonietta Orchestra will perform its semester concert.

The ensemble, conducted by graduate students Katie O'Brien (graduate-orchestral conducting) and Francisco Varela (graduate-orchestral conducting), meets once a week for about 90 minutes to work on various repertoires.

O'Brien said the orchestra began as a string orchestra, and this is the first semester they have a full chamber orchestra.

"I couldn't ask for a nicer group of students to work with," O'Brien said.

O'Brien also said that conducting the orchestra has helped her a lot with her nerves.

"I have to get up in front of a group of people every week and be prepared," O'Brien said.

Varela said that Sinfonietta is much more than a class because its purpose is for people to enjoy playing music.

"It is not a music-major orchestra, so we are not so demanding in terms of [practice]," Varela said. "We are conscious that people have other things to do."

Although conducting Sinfonietta is part of her masters program, Varela said the experience is valuable regardless.

"It is a great experience just to have a rehearsal every week," Varela said. "In lots of ways it is the same as working with a professional orchestra."

Varela added he would like to see the orchestra grow.

"[It is] the only non-music major string ensemble from the School of Music, and for it to grow, it would need to have more string players," Varela said. "The experience of making music or any performance art is special ... you might not be a musician or an actor but going through the experience is important."

Heather Bonnett (senior-environmental resource management) played violin throughout high school. Because of scheduling conflicts, she said she could only take Sinfonietta during her freshman and senior years. She said the group has changed since her freshman year, when the recital was held in the same room the orchestra practiced in. She added she likes having two graduate students as conductors.

"They're really motivated, and they understand that we're not music majors -- they bring a different feel and perspective to the [orchestra]," Bonnett said.

Bonnett said she also likes the mindset of Sinfonietta.

"You don't feel the pressure to be perfect and at the same level of someone who's been playing consistently," Bonnett said.

Both O'Brien and Bonnett said they are looking forward to the concert.

"I didn't expect to play music this difficult. We've accomplished a lot this semester with the full orchestra," Bonnett said.

Dong-Jun Jung (freshman-liberal arts) joined Sinfonietta this semester. He began playing violin when he was young and wanted to continue playing.

"I get to meet more people who play music [and] I'm just happy to continue playing music. A lot of my friends at other colleges don't have programs for non-music majors," Jung said.