As the new music director and conductor of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony, Peter Haberman's goal for the season was simply to get the students used to working with him.

But it seems he has already accomplished that, and the student's enthusiastic message is very clear: They're ready to play.

"Dr. Haberman is an amazing conductor," alto saxophonist and Cadott High School senior Nathan Plass said. "I think he's going to do a lot of great things for the Youth Symphony."

The Youth Symphony kicks off its 30th season with a fall pops concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Gantner Concert Hall at UW-Eau Claire.

Haberman, who also is the director of bands at UW-Eau Claire, said the concert, much like the entire season, will feature a diverse repertoire.

In addition to pieces like Franz von Suppe's "Poet and Peasant Overture," the symphony will play some familiar tunes from pop culture, such as a Star Wars medley and a song from "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Kate Van de Loo and Plass are the two student representatives on the symphony's board.

Van de Loo, who plays the harp, said the diversity of the repertoire helps the audience connect with the music.

"(Pop culture music is) also fun just because people know what it sounds like ahead of time, and so it really gives the students and the audience a chance to get into the music and experience it in a new way," said Van de Loo, a Memorial High School senior.

Other concerts for the Youth Symphony this season will include all Russian and French pieces in December and March, respectively.

The March concert will be a tour, Haberman said.

In past years the CVYS has toured area schools. This year, they hope to play in River Falls and Hudson.

"This concept really gains us support," Haberman said. "We're not like a theatre, they don't have to come to us. We can go to them."

Over the past two years, the CVYS has grown from 56 to 77 musicians who come from high schools as far away as 60 miles. Haberman said keeping the Youth Symphony strong gives kids musical opportunities that could shape their appreciation of music for the rest of their lives. And with shrinking music programs in public schools, those are opportunities that are getting harder to find.

"The light bulb still goes on," Haberman said. "(The students) still have those first experiences that are amazing and make them love playing and being a musician."

Plass and Van de Loo couldn't agree more.

Both have spent seven years with the CVYS, both are looking at attending college next year, and both said studying music has been a real consideration.

"(CVYS is) a truly great experience because it's so serious about music and its so unique in that it offers students from everywhere the chance to perform with a full orchestral group," Plass said. "I feel the Youth Symphony really has shaped how I look at music in the future, whether its a career or something I do as a pastime."

Hanson can be reached at 715-833-9206, 800-236-7007 or rob.hanson@ecpc.com.