The North Georgia Chamber Symphony is set to kick off a weekend filled with performances in North Georgia.

The group will make appearances in Blairsville, Dawsonville and Dahlonega from Friday through Sunday.

The group began performing at North Georgia College & State University in 2002, and by 2007 the group had become an independent organization.

We are a community group with members from all over North Georgia. We have people from Buford, Cumming, Dahlonega, and several other places around the region," said Betty Florence, treasurer and secretary for the symphony in addition to principal second violinist.

"We've been playing for a good little while together, and it's always so much fun."

Florence said the ensemble hires local professional musicians to add variation to the sound.

Gainesville State College music professor Laurin Smith will direct the performances.

Florence encouraged the community to take in the intimacy of a chamber performance.

"All kinds of music from many different time periods will be performed. If you like music, it's a great way to be close to it," Florence said. "You're particularly close to the performers."

The concerts are all free, and feature the same pieces, selections from Antonio Vivaldi, Johannes Brahms, Giacomo Puccini, Aaron Copland's "HoeDown," Leroy Anderson's "Jazz Pizzicato," and John Rutter's "Suite for Strings."

The schedule includes a 7 p.m. Friday performance at the Old Courthouse on the Square in Blairsville, a 7:30 p.m. Saturday performance at the Bowen Center for the Arts in Dawsonville and a 2:30 p.m. Sunday performance for Mother's Day at Dahlonega United Methodist Church.

All shows are free, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early as space is limited for each venue