As highly regarded as Michael Powell is as a professional musician, getting to play alongside students is still a worthwhile experience for him.

“It’s a real delight,” Powell, a 1973 Wichita State graduate, said. “It gives me energy. I feel their energy. I can focus that and it helps me in my own playing. The enthusiasm is infectious.”

Powell, who is currently a freelance musician in New York and serves on the faculty at the Juilliard School, will join the WSU Symphony Orchestra tonight in its first performance of the 2012-2013 season.

“The rewards are on so many levels,” he said. “I’m seeing old friends and I’m making new friends.”

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Miller Concert Hall.

The key pieces being played come from three different composers: Joseph Haydn, Jean Sibelius and Eric Ewazen.

“It’s a varied program,” Powell said. “There is music from three great historic periods of music.”

Ewazen has been a guest artist at WSU before, and knows Powell well.

Ewazen, a fellow faculty member at New York’s famed Juilliard School, wrote the featured piece for tonight’s concert for Powell in 1993.

“Michael was always encouraging,” Ewazen said. “It is really fun that I can be here, too, to hear him play it.”

Ewazen will be in attendance to see Powell perform the piece written specifically for him, but it won’t be played as originally intended.

It was meant to be played solo, but tonight it will be played alongside an orchestra for the first time.

“It’s the first time the performer has ever heard it with an orchestra,” said Rosie Barney, a senior in music performance at WSU. “Having the composer here makes it even more exciting.”

Barney, who plays viola, will be one of the students playing alongside Powell tonight. She is especially looking forward to Sibelius’s piece, which features a nice viola section.

But most importantly, she is excited about getting to play alongside a well-noted professional musician like Powell.

“He has a really good energy, a really good sound,” Barney said. “He has been really easy to work with. He is really excited to work with us even though we are just college kids.”

Tickets for tonight’s concert are $7 through the WSU Fine Arts Box Office. You can also call (316) 978-3233.

The event is open to the public and is sponsored by the WSU School of Music.