This Saturday, students will have a chance to hear the original works of three instrumental musicians at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Liz Story, Tracy Silverman and Barbara Higbie will travel to Penn State as part of the Windham Hill Winter Solstice tour.

The three artists will take the stage by themselves and also play a few songs together.

"We're sort of professionals being eclectic," Silverman said.

Part of the "eclectic" nature is evident in one of Story's early successes as a pianist. She said she needed to practice sight reading -- playing the entire way through a piece that the musician has never seen before -- and took a job playing in the background at a restaurant to force herself to brush up on the skill.

"When I got there, I saw the whole front casing was missing," Story said. "There was nowhere to place music. I started out pretending to play the piano, making stuff up. That's how I started writing music."

This on-the-spot composition was even later sampled by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Story said.

"I was just like any person at age 20 who had never written a note of music," Story said. "I tell young people not to worry about being in a panic because sometimes it's useful."

Story's instrumental playing style is also evident in her preference for other artists.

"I tend to like more jazz and classical, but I do like some rock and pop. I love Prince," Story said. "I can't listen to many songs in terms of language unless I really like the words."

Like Story, Silverman said he began learning music as a classically trained musician but didn't feel right in that field.

"I went to Julliard, but when I got there, I got turned off to classical music," Silverman said. "I wanted to play in a rock band. My parents wanted me to finish, though, so I did. I love classical music; I just didn't want to make a career of it."

It was at this time in his life when Silverman started playing electric violin.

"I composed a violin concerto that's kind of a mixture of rock, jazz and definitely classical in it, too," he said. "I like to bring all of that to the table."

Silverman said his music does not fit any particular category.

"It falls between the cracks," he said. "A lot of young kids these days like music that isn't set into a genre."

Center for the Performing Arts Marketing and Communications Director Laura Sullivan said Silverman used to be part of Turtle Island String Quartet, which was surprisingly rock-based.

"[Turtle Island Strong Quartet plays] very cool music," she said.

Silverman is currently developing a trio with Roy Wooten, a musician from the Bela Fleck group.

"I call it a 'virtuoso jam band,' " Silverman said. "I'm planning to record with him."

Pianist and violinist Higbie also had unique beginnings to her music career. She was born in Michigan and lived in Indiana, but later moved to Ghana, West Africa. She found her musical calling while in Paris.

Like the other three artists, Higbie said that she composes her own pieces, which combine multiple musical styles and sounds.

"It's very relaxing, new-age music," Sullivan said.