APPLETON, Wis. — One by one, members of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra walked into St. Bernard Catholic Church with instrument cases in their hands or slung over their shoulders.

It had been more than 14 months since they last played together — and in some cases seen one another — and excitement was running high.

“I can’t wait to actually play something together,” said Yuliya Smead, the orchestra’s concertmaster, just moments before the first rehearsal began. “It’s going to be wonderful.”

The rehearsal came on the same week the organization rebased it’s 2021-22 season schedule of four concerts between November and April.

For Principal Cellist, Laura Kenney Henckel, the return of something she loves — and has missed — is an emotional experience.

“I’m probably going to cry. I love this music. I love the musical choices we have, the Tchaikovsky. I’ve played it a few times, but it's going to be emotional,” she said. “It’s going to be very hard.”

Music Director Kevin Sütterlin said the upcoming season will reflect what the world has endured in the last year, and the people who make up the community.

“It’s a celebration of science, of people’s resilience, a celebration of the amazing people in our community,” he said. “Frontline workers who have really worked so hard, 24/7 really, over the last year and a half.”

Smead said she’s looking forward to performing for the community, and giving something back, along side the rest of the symphony orchestra.

“Being a musician is about playing together, and that’s been cut out of our lives for the past year and a half,” she said.