Six young Stamford violinists will join over 170 of their peers this weekend to play in the Fairfield County String Festival.

Four students from Cloonan Middle School and two from Rippowam Middle School will perform at Western Connecticut State University Saturday at 3 p.m.  Among them is seventh grader Brian Kaether, one of just 16 Fairfield County students named to the honors orchestra.

"I really like to perform," he says.  "The violin has always kind of been a hobby for me and I just love doing everything that has to do with it."

Also, playing: seventh graders Paola Socci and Lucy Hart.

"Not a lot of kids get accepted into [the festival orchestra], and not many get the opportunity to be in it," Socci says. 

"I like the way it sounds," says Hart of the violin.  "It's fun to play."

Seventh grader Emma Cali will be there, too.  She says more people her age should try the violin.

"It allows you to make music in a really nice way," she says.  "And it takes a long time to get good at it, but it's worth it."

The full list of Stamford students performing this weekend:

Emma Cali, Cloonan Middle School

Lucy Hart, Cloonan

Julia Hassantalebi, Rippowam Middle School

Brian Kaether, Cloonan

Isha Parikh, Rippowam

Paola Socci, Cloonan