LA GRANDE — The Grande Ronde Symphony is going small in size but not in sound for its winter concert.

Titled “Bite Size Pieces,” the performance will feature four smaller ensembles. This approach emerged as an idea after GRS had a hard time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filling all parts for a full symphony at its concert in November.

“That makes it kind of difficult,” said Alice Trindle, president of the Grande Ronde Symphony Association.

Featuring smaller groups allows for greater distance between musicians, and highlights individual instruments that may be hard to discern in a full symphony concert.

“It allows our ear to become more educated to the tones and nuances of the instruments,” Trindle said. “There are wonderful pieces that are for these small ensembles.”

The live, in-person concert will be Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre on the campus of Eastern Oregon University. Masks will be required for all audience members.

“We decided to celebrate the talent of the orchestra’s musicians by breaking our winter concert performance into small ensembles,” said Zachary Banks, music director. “The ‘Bite Size Pieces’ we have chosen are all huge audience-pleasers and truly showcase the quality of musicians found within the full symphony orchestra.”

The evening will begin with the Grande Ronde Symphony brass quintet setting the stage with some works in the Baroque style, followed by the symphony’s woodwind quintets featuring a variety of musical styles from Brazilian choro music to American ragtime.

The final ensemble for the winter concert will be the Grande Ronde strings performing the classical “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart and followed by the lyrical “Holberg” Suite by composer Edvard Grieg.

Tickets are available online at granderondesymphony.org and at Direct Music Source in La Grande and Betty’s Books in Baker City. Cost is $12 adults, $10 seniors, $2 college students, and $1 for those in middle school and high school. Season passes are also available: $30 adults, $20 seniors, $2 college students, $1 high school students.

Special pricing is available for families and groups. For information, email grsymphony2@gmail.com.

Grande Ronde Symphony winter concert

March 2, 7 p.m.

McKenzie Theatre, EOU

$12 adults, $10 seniors

$2 college students

$1 middle/high school

Tickets: Direct Music Source, Betty’s Books, granderondesymphony.org