"It's amazing really just to think about it," string bassist, Tommy Zongker said.

It's created musical excitement ever since the Great Depression. The Springfield Civic Orchestra was born in 1934. During World War 2, with performers overseas, soldiers at O'Reilly Army Hospital in Springfield filled in. It's a tempo for the love of music that hasn't changed.

"It gets into your system and doesn't leave," Zongker said.

"You'd like to be a part of it," violinist Janet Hopkins said, "and see it keep going."

For many, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra is their life.

"I grew up with it," Hopkins said.

Hopkins, a second violinist, is a second-generation performer.

"My mom played with the symphony for 40 years until she died," Hopkins said. "It was a special time to be with her and play; it was wonderful."

Zongker first performed in 1952 when he was a sophomore in high school. A few years back, after open-heart surgery, he couldn't play; he just had to sit and watch.

"I almost cried," Zongker said. "I never sat out there. it was so beautiful."

Performers say the success is not thanks to the expensive instruments or the time of practice. It's not the conductor or amount of experience each of them have. It's all thanks to the folks sitting in the audience.

"This community is a big supporter of the arts," Hopkins said.

"It's a wonderful thing," Zongker said. "There are other cities and counties of this size that don't have anything like this."

The symphony's performance on Saturday starts at 7:30 at the Juanita K Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Tickets were still available on Friday.