Local students from Boothbay, Edgecomb, Southport and Boothbay Harbor were treated to a “KinderKonzert” by the wind ensemble of the Portland Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Musicians were Lisa Hennessy on flute, Stephanie Burk on the oboe, John Bodin of the French horn, Janet Polk on the bassoon, and Tom Parchman on the clarinet. The ensemble played “The Tale of Peter and the Wolf,” narrated by Director of Education and Community Engagement John Elliott.

“We have four ensembles for each instrument family,” Elliott said. “Wind, brass, percussion, and strings. Each group has a new story every year. We try to have a specific focus each year, and this year it is literacy and storytelling.”

The concert started with Elliott telling the students about the different characters, and how each one has a specific musical theme in the story. For example, when the bird was acting, Hennessy would play a series of notes on her flute. Elliott taught the students simple hand movements to go along with those themes, which gave the kids both a chance to move during the concert and also kept them focused.

“We do between 30 and 70 KinderKonzert's in a year,” Elliott said. “Boothbay Harbor is the farthest north we'll probably go this year. We've also been to Saco and Biddeford. We've gone as far west as North Conway, N.H. We try to meet the needs of as many locations as possible.”

Bodin, who has been with the Portland Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, has been playing the French horn for 53 years. He has participated in the KinderKonzert program since it started.

“Kids are the best part of the concerts,” Bodin said. “They are so into life.”

When the concert was over, the kids gave a thunderous round of applause.

“It was good,” said 5-year-old Adaline Barter as she headed towards the bus to go back to school.