The New London Community Orchestra has been offering free lessons since 2013, and now those students are getting a chance to shine in a very public platform.

On Saturday, they will join the orchestra in concert for the first time.

The orchestra's Music City Strings program has grown over its few years of existence and now boasts free violin and cello lessons at the Regional Multicultural Magnet School and at the Public Library of New London. The students range from those in third grade through those in ninth.

About 10 of those youths are expected to participate in Saturday's show at St. Mary Star of the Sea in New London, where they'll do two works. They'll play a version of Leroy Anderson's "The Syncopated Clock" with the orchestra. The orchestra's music director, David Bradley, has written an arrangement of "Syncopated Clock" specifically for the kids. It's somewhat simplified, so that even some of the students who are relative newcomers to violin and cello can participate, says Tom Clark, the New London Community Orchestra's president.

The students will perform another piece on their own, Soon Hee Newbold's "Appalachian Hymn," which was selected by lead teacher James Hunter.

For a long time, the Music City Strings program was just for grades 4 and 5; this past year, it expanded into middle and high school age ranges.

Some of the students who started with the program are now playing with their school orchestras.

"It's wonderful to see some of them blossom into really, really loving the music and having them take off and (having) it become a super important part of their lives," Clark says. "It's wonderful to hear from the parents afterward about how they've continued with the music ... even after they leave us."

For some students, this is their first foray into music or playing an instrument. For others, this is an extension of their existing interest. For instance, Joseph Salcedo, a New London resident who is a freshmen at the Marine Science Magnet School High School in Groton, has long loved the arts. He's played piano and taken tap class, and he has performed in the New London Youth Talent Show. He started with the Music City Strings program in September.

"I decided I wanted to be a part of it to gain music experience. ... So far, I've liked it a lot," says Salcedo, who recalled how his mother bought him a toy violin when he was younger.

He's looking forward to getting the opportunity to play with the orchestra members, and he says of "The Syncopated Clock," "I'm excited to hear how it's going to seem once we put it together with the community orchestra."

At past shows, the orchestra has brought literature about the Music City Strings program and run a video about it during intermission. But now concert-goers will get to see the fruits of that program when the students actually perform.

"It's a great opportunity for us to be able to showcase what we do," Clark says.

Much of Music City Strings is modeled on the renowned El Sistema music education program in Venezuela. El Sistema has inspired countless similar programs around the world; Gustavo Dudamel, who is now the Los Angeles Philharmonic's music director, is an El Sistema alum, and the philharmonic is now sponsoring music lessons similar to the Venezuela original's.

This is all about music, yes, but it's also about more, as Clark notes; studying and playing music helps develop academic skills and life skills.

A further note about Saturday's program: It will feature the orchestra on pieces including Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 and Rachmaninoff's Vocalise. The group will also present the premiere of the orchestral version of "Clarinuts," a contemporary piece by Long Island composer Mark Schweibish, who was a college classmate of Bradley's.

New London Community Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 10 Huntington St., New London; suggested donation $10; (860) 608-1780, nlcommunityorchestra.org.