More than 2,000 third graders were treated to a free children’s concert from the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra.

Every single Troup County third grader from public, private or home schools were invited to this annual event.

Some students from Chambers, Heard and Lanett counties also attended.

The Symphony has been hosting this event for 22 years.

Students were given a booklet to learn more about concert etiquette and background of the instruments in the symphony.

LaGrange Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Raylene Carter says there are studies that prove when a child is exposed to a live artistic event by the time they are in third grade when they become adults they will become a patron or supporter of the arts.

“I meet young adults all the time who tell me they remember going to the symphony in third grade,” Carter said.

“It’s extremely unusual for a city our size to have a professional symphony and for these children to experience all this in the Callaway Audition. It’s a great way to expose our children to all the wonderful things in our community.”

The West Point Fund of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc. sponsored this event.