Maestro Crafton Beck of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra is not only a talented musical director and conductor, he also has a gift for making classical music relevant to children.

On Friday, the maestro, along with the MSO, will travel to Vicksburg to present “Bach to the Future,” a program that will feature excerpts of compositions composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, Vicksburg Warren County School District fine arts coordinator Nancy Robertson said.

“All first through third graders from the public and private schools have been invited to attend,” Robertson said, adding she is expecting about 2,000 children for the two performances scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 11 at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Sponsored by the Four Seasons of the Arts, Friday’s event was originally called A Day with the Symphony, artistic director for the Four Seasons of the Arts Dorothy Brasfield said. She said originally not only were the two daytime programs offered to local students, the event also included a free evening program that was open to the public.

The evening portion of the program, which featured the MSO, was eventually dropped, Brasfield said, and is now presented on Memorial Day.

However, for nearly 20 years, the Four Seasons of the Arts has continued to offer the daytime programs, which are geared to give students the chance to experience a live orchestra.

“The event will give some of these kids an opportunity to see what an orchestra looks like and sounds like, and some of them will never see one live again,” Robertson said.

During Friday’s performance, Beck will tell a story to the children through the music using “snippets” of Bach’s compositions, Robertson said.

“He always draws the audience into the performance. He is quiet the educator as well as being clever and entertaining,” she said.

In addition to the musical performance, Robertson said Beck would also introduce the students to the members of the orchestra and talk to them about the different kinds of instruments the members play.

In a time when music programs are being cut, Robertson said Vicksburg has been a community that has always valued the fine arts.

“We are so thankful to be in a community that supports every aspect of the fine arts. There is no lack of fine arts in this community,” she said.